An 18-year-old student on a work experience placement at Utrecht city council is suspected of forging 13 passports and handing them over to people who had no right to them, news agency ANP says on Friday.

The forgeries were made in November 2014 and January this year and the youth was picked up by police in early April.

It is unclear how the student went to work or who received the forged passports. The youth was released after being questioned by police and the public prosecution department is now considering if he should face charges.

The case came to light after one person reported their passport had been wrongly listed as missing. The council then carried out an internal investigation which led back to the student.