Spanish Police have dismantled a clandestine printing press in the southwestern Spain, preventing the circulation of more than 250,000 euros in counterfeit bills in Spain and Portugal. Six people were arrested and more than 8, 000 euro in fake 10, 20-and 50-euro notes were confiscated during a raid on a clandestine printing shop in the Port city of Huelva, about 60 km from the border with Portugal.
The joint operation with Europol, the EU’s police cooperation agency, also led to the seizure of two guns, three printers, three computers, metallic material used to mimic the hologram of real bills, ink cartridges, cutting instruments and other tools used in the production of counterfeit notes.
The investigation began in March after fake notes were detected in circulation in small bars and restaurants in the Huelva region. The investigation broadened when it was discovered that counterfeit euros were also being distributed in Portugal.
This led to the raid on the clandestine printing press in one of two house searches carried out simultaneously by police in the Huelva capital and the arrest of the counterfeiter.
Five more arrests were made targeting the distributors of the forged notes, resulting in the complete dismantlement of the criminal group
Once the printing press was dismantled and the counterfeiter arrested, the investigators located and arrested the five distributors of the forged notes, resulting in the organisation being completely dismantled, Spanish police said in a press release on Tuesday.
The European Central Bank (ECB) recommends that consumers use its “feel, look and tilt” method if they have any concerns that a banknote in their possession might be counterfeit.
The bank says that euro notes should feel crisp and firm, and that some sections should feel thicker than others.
When held up to the light, a watermark should become visible in the portrait window of euro banknotes, as should a security thread close to their centre.
If a genuine euro banknote is tilted, its silvery stripe should reveal a portrait of Europa in a transparent window, while an emerald number displays an effect of light moving up and down.
Originally published on The Scandal.net
