The National Service of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Ecuador, which is a subsidiary of the national police, equipped their forensic laboratories in two major cities––Quito and Guayaquil––with Regula 4308 dual-video spectral comparators. Regula devices were chosen to modernise forensic research in the country and get the required technology for investigating the authenticity of IDs, banknotes, signatures, documents, and so on.
After using some devices for over a decade, the National Service of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Ecuador felt the lack of modern technology. The organisation was aspiring to cover all the major issues of document analysis with a single device, which was powerful enough to perform profound investigation of any document feature, including inks and writing. On top of this, the public entity was eager to get a new dedicated technological partner and receive comprehensive vendor support.
“Upon equipping our forensic laboratories with Regula’s devices and databases, we finally managed to reach the required high level of technology to perform any kind of document investigation––quickly, conveniently, and efficiently. We are happy with the technical features of the Regula 4308 comparator, with the quality of their databases (which are constantly updated), and with their support and involvement. Not only did Regula provide its products, but the company also organised training for our experts to help them use the device to the fullest and get insights on security features of different documents,” says Cristian Ernesto Salgado Ortega, Technical Coordinator at the National Service of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Ecuador.
The Regula 4308 dual-video spectral comparator is designed for advanced examination of all possible documents, as well as art and collectibles. It allows forensic experts to thoroughly investigate document printing methods and surface relief, as well as overlapping objects, such as signatures or stamps. For efficient verification of IDs, this dual-video spectral comparator has modules for reading MRZs, RFID chips, hidden images (IPI), and barcodes. With over 30 types of light sources, more than 20 light filters, and 320x magnification, Regula 4308 helps to investigate even the tiniest details.
Apart from the devices, the National Service of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Ecuador obtained Regula’s information reference systems (IRS) on documents and banknotes. They are comprehensive databases of a vast majority of travel documents, banknotes, driver’s licenses, and vehicle registration certificates, with detailed descriptions and images of the documents captured in different light sources. This reference system is a perfect comprehensive
information assistant for forensic experts who rely on this data to examine the security features of each document or banknote more efficiently.
To get the most of the newest devices, special training was held for the Ecuadorian forensic laboratory experts. It was organised by Regula and delivered by Juan Manuel Padrón Primo, a renowned forensic document examiner and Regula’s long-term partner. He highlighted the capabilities of the device and trained forensic labs’ staff to use it effectively. “It goes without saying that equipment plays a key role in forensic laboratories. Regula 4308 revolutionises the approach to document examination––it speeds up the analysis while enhancing its quality and outcome. And it’s the first time in Latin America that a single device covers all the major issues of optical analysis of inks and writing to highlight possible illegal alterations in documents via inconsistencies in pigment, traces, luminescence in infrared light and so on,” comments Padrón Primo.
