Local authorities have recently discovered a factory for producing counterfeit money in Oradea, a town in the Western part of Romania. Prosecutors of DIICOT (Directorate for Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism) have held several persons involved in the counterfeiting activity, seizing over EUR 13 million in 50 euro notes. According to local news agency Mediafax, the operation was under the control of an Italian mafia clan based in Naples. The counterfeit money printed in Romania was transported by various members of the group through Europe to Italy, where it was put on the market.
Investigations are ongoing as we speak. According to news reports, authorities have observed an increased activity of Italian individuals around a certain building in Oradea. They organized a stakeout, monitoring the area for over 18 months before making their move, in an effort to discover the complete route of the money. Romania’s DIICOT has worked in close collaboration with the Italian Anti-Mafia Directorate, but conducted the local phases of the investigation itself.
During the roundup organized by DIICOT at the money factory the authorities have seized over 13 million euros and plates for printing various notes that the perpetrators tried to burn. Besides they discovered burned traces of other denominations, paper and inks used for counterfeiting money. Prosecutors have arrested two suspects in Romania, and another three of them – in the process of delivering the “finished product” to Italy – are wanted. In parallel, Italian authorities have held several individuals involved in the counterfeiting activity.
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Naples is the counterfeiting capital of Europe. Printing fake money is a traditional criminal activity in this major Italian city. Local “specialists” have produced large amounts of US dollars, French and Swiss francs in the past, but they have recently reoriented their expertise towards euros. According to a press release by the European Central Bank, the institution has recovered and destroyed 670,000 forged euro notes in 2013, showing an increase of 26% compared to the previous year. Most of them were 20 and 50 euro notes – small denominations that attract little attention when used in transactions.