Broken network for fake euros with extremely precise banknotes in Sofia

The Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs (SDIA) detained three suspects for producing and distributing counterfeit banknotes of exceptionally precise quality. The operation was conducted by the "Economic Police" department in the Sofia neighborhood of "Ovcha Kupel".

According to a statement by the director, Chief Commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov, the detainees are criminally active individuals with address registrations in Varna and Targovishte. One of them had previously been recognized in police circles for prior crimes related to document fraud.

During the specialized operation, 50 banknotes with a denomination of 200 euros were seized, amounting to a total value of 10,000 euros. Nikolov emphasized that the quality of the counterfeits is of serious interest to numerous law enforcement services on a European scale.

Experts from SDIA found that at the moment there is no evidence of such banknote production on Bulgarian territory. However, their distribution has been registered in almost all European countries, which raises questions about the scale of criminal activity.

The police investigation reveals that the detainees planned to distribute the fake euros among Bulgarian citizens, taking advantage of the upcoming euro introduction and potential uncertainty in recognizing authentic banknotes.

According to Commissioner Nikolov's calculations, such high-tech counterfeits are traded on the market at about 30% of their actual value. This suggests a significant economic interest for the criminal group.

Law enforcement authorities reported that the operation continues, with expectations of detaining other individuals linked to the counterfeit currency production network. The investigation focuses on identifying the potential printing facility and main distributors.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecution define the fight against currency counterfeiting as one of their main priorities in the context of the upcoming euro introduction in Bulgaria.