Europol catches Euro banknotes forger – DW – 08/19/2024

Last week, a man in Naples, Italy, was arrested for producing €11 million ($12 million) worth of counterfeit Euro banknotes, according to Europol. This suspect had already sold €8 million of fake notes across Europe, with €3 million ready for distribution from his secretive printing lab. Europol estimates he may be behind over 27% of fake euro banknotes found in 2023 alone.

Italian Carabinieri officers discovered a sophisticated print shop with 31 digital printing machines and high-quality counterfeit security features hidden behind a garage door during a raid. The European Central Bank confirmed the quality of the fake banknotes, including holograms.

Earlier this year, police arrested 14 individuals in Barcelona, Rome, and Naples for producing and distributing over €1 million in counterfeit €100 notes. Additionally, German authorities removed over 56,000 fake banknotes, valued at over €5 million, from circulation due to a rise in counterfeit bills.

This arrest highlights the ongoing battle against counterfeit money circulating throughout Europe.