Europol and 18 countries seize €66 million in counterfeits

21 August 2025 , 21:17

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Europol and 18 countries seize €66 million in counterfeits

Law enforcement authorities from 18 countries, supported by Europol, seized nearly one million counterfeit items worth more than €66 million ($76.9 million) in a crackdown on fake currency, according to Europol.

The six-month operation intercepted 297 parcels in postal networks and launched 102 new investigations into groups moving bogus euros, U.S. dollars and British pounds.

Led by Austria, Portugal, and Spain between October 2024 and March 2025, the sweep uncovered counterfeiting hubs in Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East. Europol said one of the biggest strikes came in Romania, where $600,000 in fake cash was confiscated. Most of the seized notes were “movie money”—props with small disclaimers that criminals often exploit.

Sophia Martinez