On an action day conducted in Naples, Italy, on 14 August 2024, the Italian Carabinieri arrested a notorious money forger, dismantled his sophisticated counterfeiting print shop and seized nearly EUR 3 million in high-quality counterfeit banknotes. Collaborating closely with the French National Police, experts from the respective anti-currency counterfeiting units tracked down the criminal believed to be responsible for selling millions of euros worth of forged banknotes. Europol supported this investigation, which started in 2022 and has since seen the intelligence contributions from at least 10 countries reporting seizures of the same type of faked euro bills.
Leading up to the action day, authorities across Europe had seized counterfeit banknotes of various denominations (mostly 20, 50 and 100 euros) worth around EUR 950 000 before they entered circulation, all traceable to the same producer. Furthermore, the arrested counterfeiter is believed to be responsible for over 27% of all faked euro banknotes discovered and taken out of circulation in 2023 alone. The total face value of these banknotes is estimated at around EUR 8 million.
Bunker-like printing laboratory in a private residence
The Carabinieri’s anti-money forgery investigators, with the support of Europol’s experts, had been zoning in on the sophisticated print shop hidden in the city of Naples. When officers raided the location, they came across an almost industrial-like production line containing 31 digital printing machines and extensive quantities of raw materials used for the production of fake banknotes. The criminal had set up shop in his own home, hiding the production facility behind his garage. Concealed behind a cabinet, the forger had constructed a movable wall part on rails, which allowed him to access the printing lab when actuating a homemade electronic system.
Authorities believe that the forger relied on several national and transnational distribution channels, the latter predominantly in France, to sell his counterfeit banknotes in denominations of 20, 50 and 100 euros. Expert analysis, including an assessment by the European Central Bank, confirmed that the counterfeit security features on the banknotes (such as holograms) were of high quality.
Europol’s support to Italy and France
Europol facilitated the information exchange and financed and coordinated several operational activities. Europol also provided analytical support to identify the countries in which the banknotes were distributed. During the action day, Europol sent an expert to Italy to provide technical support and cross-check the operational information against Europol’s databases and the European Central Bank’s systems.
