In a significant operation on 10 June 2024, the Italian Carabinieri arrested a money counterfeiter in Lecce and dismantled a sophisticated counterfeit print shop. This raid led to the seizure of over EUR 100,000 in counterfeit banknotes and EUR 10,000 in cryptocurrencies. The action was part of a broader investigation coordinated by Europol, which involved law enforcement agencies from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain.
The criminal group, under investigation since February 2024, was responsible for producing high-quality counterfeit euro banknotes of various denominations. These counterfeit notes were sold via an encrypted messaging service, with payments made in cryptocurrencies. The raid uncovered a print shop equipped with tools and materials used to create convincing fake banknotes, including security features like holograms.
Europol played a crucial role in this operation, supporting the participating countries by developing an intelligence picture and tracing over 170 sales of counterfeit notes. Investigators discovered that buyers could order fake euro notes via a dedicated communication channel, with the counterfeit bills being delivered through the post. Europol also provided analytical support to identify the distribution of counterfeit currency across several countries.
On the day of the raid, Europol deployed an expert to Italy to provide technical support and cross-check information against Europol’s databases and the European Central Bank’s systems. This operation highlights the collaborative effort between multiple European countries in combating sophisticated counterfeit currency operations.
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