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Date Published: 07/10/2022
ARCHIVED - Police shut down largest counterfeit 500-euro banknote lab in Europe with arrests in Malaga and Alicante
Several arrests have been made on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca in a joint operation with police in Barcelona and Europol
One of Europe's largest and most active laboratories dedicated to producing counterfeit 500-euro banknotes has been shut down and several people arrested in Malaga and the Valencia region.
As part of the investigation, a joint operation involving the National Police, Barcelona's police force, Mossos d'Esquadra, and Europol, half a dozen searches of homes, industrial premises and a caravan were carried out in the provinces of Alicante, Barcelona, Malaga, Teruel and Valencia.
Twelve people have been arrested, including the alleged printer and main distributors.
The investigation began mid-2021, when the authorities detected the circulation of high quality counterfeit 500 euro banknotes "in a large part of the national territory", the National Police said in a statement.
"The Bank of Spain's Investigation Brigade (the National Central Office for currency counterfeiting), became aware of numerous criminal acts throughout the country involving counterfeit banknotes of this denomination," it added.
In fact, the Mossos d'Esquadra's Counterfeit Currency unit found a bag containing more than 4 million euros in counterfeit 500 euro banknotes in a town near Barcelona. Following an expert report by the Bank of Spain's National Analysis Centre, it was confirmed that it was the same counterfeit.
The banknotes were sent to forensic experts to identify anybody who may have had access to them, which led to the identification of the printer and five other people, many of whom were close associates.
Apparently, they met in Picassent prison where they were serving sentences for different crimes, and remained in contact after their release. According to the National Police, the printer brought the group together again in a warehouse in the province of Valencia, where he allegedly set up a new printing laboratory.
During the production period of around three months, each of them carried out different tasks, such as cleaning machines, purchasing different materials, etc., printing an estimated 8 million euros worth of counterfeit banknotes.
"This money was allegedly destined for criminal activities, such as the purchase of drugs," added the police.
The criminal gang's activities were halted during the pandemic, but soon picked up again and moved to a warehouse near the so-called leader's home near Alfaz del Pi before relocating to Malaga.
The detainees were charged with offences of currency counterfeiting and membership of a criminal group, and the main suspects, including the printer and the leader of the group, were sent to prison.
Images: Policía Nacional/Europol/Mossos d'Esquadra
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