http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/49827000/jpg/_49827578_plane_disguise2_ap.jpg
Canadian officials released "before and after" images

Canadian officials have detained a young Asian man who apparently boarded a flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver disguised as an elderly white male.

Canadian Border Services said the man wore a silicone mask covering his head and neck in what they called an "unbelievable case of concealment".

Suspicions were raised when an apparently elderly passenger was noticed with young-looking hands.

Later he emerged from a washroom looking like a man in his twenties.

An internal intelligence alert from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), obtained by AP news agency, shows before-and-after photos.

The passenger was seen at the start of the flight as an "elderly Caucasian male who appeared to have young-looking hands," the CBSA bulletin said.

"The subject attended the washroom and emerged an Asian looking male that appeared to be in his early twenties."

The document said the man had a bag with a "disguise kit which consisted of a silicone type head and neck mask of an elderly Caucasian male, a brown leather cap, glasses and a thin brown cardigan."

"We can confirm that officials from the CBSA met a passenger arriving off AC018 Hong Kong to Vancouver on October 29 and the matter is still under investigation," Air Canada spokesperson Angela Mah told AFP news agency.

The man is reported to be seeking refugee status in Canada.

This was on the front page of our daily newspaper this morning.
Incredible disguise.

Yes, he is seeking refugee status in Canada.

The hands gave him away - doh! Lol.

I still think that is an amazing disguise, if a little too caricaturish (is that a word? Lol).

Wow, taking all those lengths to get into Canada!