Europol Operation Dismantles Major Euro Counterfeiting Ring

A large-scale, multi-national operation supported by Europol has led to the arrest of several members of a criminal group producing high-quality counterfeit euro banknotes. The coordinated effort spanned across multiple European countries, striking a significant blow to the illicit production and distribution of fake currency.

The investigation, spearheaded by the Italian Carabinieri, involved close cooperation with authorities from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain. On April 7th, the operation culminated in the arrest of 3 suspects in Italy and the seizure of substantial evidence.

Authorities confiscated 600 counterfeit euro banknotes with denominations of EUR 10, 20, 50, and 100, totaling approximately EUR 50,000. More significantly, the operation succeeded in dismantling a print shop used for producing the counterfeit banknotes, located in southern Italy, and an illegal mint (stamping press) in northern Italy.

The investigation, initiated in 2024, uncovered a criminal organization based in southern Italy responsible for distributing large quantities of counterfeit euros across the eurozone. The fake currency, including EUR 10, 20, 50, and 100 banknotes, was primarily circulated in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain.

The press release highlights the criminal group’s sophisticated methods, noting that they demonstrated “a high level of technical expertise and internal organisation“. The leader of the gang utilized “an online messaging platform” to sell the counterfeit banknotes, receiving payments in cryptocurrency from buyers. Following confirmation of payment, the fake banknotes were then shipped through the regular postal service. This multi-faceted approach, combining online communication, cryptocurrency transactions, and traditional postal delivery, showcases the adaptability of modern criminal networks.

The Europol press release emphasizes the broader context of this operation, linking it to the growing challenge of criminal finances in the digital age. “Criminal finances are one of the common elements of the key threats identified in Europol’s EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (EU-SOCTA),” the release states. These threats are “progressively destabilising the EU” and are “nurtured online,” as criminal networks increasingly exploit digital and online infrastructures, including messaging platforms, as seen in this case.

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