Over recent years, North African authorities have encountered an increasing number of high-quality counterfeit banknotes and secure documents that demonstrate a notable escalation in technical capability. Several security features traditionally considered robust public-level defenses have been successfully imitated. These include 3D motion threads (micro-optics) in the US 100-dollar note and volume stripes in the new Israeli 100-shekel banknote. At the forensic-verification level, counterfeiters reproduced multi-colour UV fluorescent elements, not only in banknotes but also in national ID cards and Schengen visas, compromising both Level 1 and Level 2 authentication layers.

Moreover, the replication of IR-responsive and magnetic security inks highlights the emergence of illicit producers who can now mimic machine-readable features previously believed to be highly secure. These developments present serious challenges for enforcement agencies, border control authorities, and document issuers across the EMEA region.

This presentation will share real case studies from North Africa, illustrating methods used to counterfeit advanced optical and machine-readable features. It will also outline practical recommendations to enhance resilience, improve document verification practices, and support the development of next-generation security features that can withstand increasingly sophisticated threats.