EUR 14 million in counterfeit currency seized in a Europol operation in 18 countries

Law enforcement agencies from 18 countries have seized over EUR 14 million in counterfeit currency in a joint customs and police operation, reported BTA, citing Europol. Most of the seized banknotes are in denominations of 50 and 20 euros and are prop money, often referred to as "movie money". They are not full replicas of real banknotes. They have design deviations indicating that they are fake, and those distributing them do not face criminal liability.

The raids were conducted in Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Turkiye, France, Croatia, Czechia and the USA. Prop money can be ordered online or legally purchased in prop stores. Counterfeit US dollars and British pounds were also found during the special operation.