Counterfeiter Produces 11 Million Fake Euro Banknotes (Video)

Europol has arrested a manufacturer of counterfeit banknotes worth 11 million euros.

And a year ago, on June 1, 2023, in Athens, two foreigners, one from Ethiopia and the other from Congo, were arrested for circulation of counterfeit banknotes and storing documents of third parties. After checking the information of Attica Security, the defendants were arrested for counterfeit banknotes, which they then put into circulation.

The counterfeiter worked in an underground printing house that “resembled a bunker.” A preliminary investigation found that He produced more than a quarter (27%) of all counterfeit euro banknotes withdrawn from circulation last year – some €8 million.

The arrest took place in Naples, southwest Italy, the European Union's police service, Europol, reported on August 19. An operation was carried out on August 14, which resulted in The counterfeiter was arrested and the underground printing house was dismantled. 950,000 euros (in 20, 50 and 100 euro notes) that had not yet entered circulation in European countries were confiscated. In addition, banknotes worth 3 million euros were seized from the Naples printing house.

The investigation has been ongoing since 2022, with data coming from more than ten European countries. Italian carabinieri, with the support of Europol, discovered a “bunker-like” underground printing house, which was separated from the garage by a fake wall placed on rails.

The criminal used several national and transnational distribution channels.mainly in France, writes DW. An expert analysis supported by the European Central Bank has shown that the counterfeit The security features on the banknotes (including holograms) were of very high quality.

The number of counterfeit euro banknotes in circulation in Germany increased by more than a quarter in 2023, up 28.2% from the previous year to 56,600, according to the German Federal Bank (Bundesbank). The most popular euro banknote among counterfeiters (in 38% of cases) was the 50 euro note. The share of counterfeit 20 euro notes was 22%, and 200 euro notes – 15%.

In April this year, we reported how, while walking along the beach, a resident of Symi found… 2.5 million dollars. Stacks of money were packed tightly into the bag the man found. But local media later reported that the bills were counterfeit. It is entirely possible that the find was related to this Europol investigation.

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