Officers from the Spanish National Police, in a joint operation with the Catalan regional police (Mossos d'Esquadra), have dismantled a criminal group that allegedly sold counterfeit €20 and €50 banknotes through the internet.
According to police information, six people have been arrested in the operation, among whom are the main distributors and dealers.
The banknotes were sold through a well-known Internet shopping platform, later they were sent by parcel throughout the Spanish territory together with the corresponding holographic bands that the buyers themselves had to stick on the banknotes.
Counterfeits worth €13,900, numerous holographic bands and different tools to manipulate the bills have been seized, the police said.
According to a press release from the Ministry of the Interior, the investigations began in mid-June 2021 when the circulation of a large number of fake €20 and €50 notes was detected, which had common counterfeit elements.
From Cadiz to Tarragona
The agents verified that the main distributor resided in the town of Chiclana de la Frontera (Cádiz) and one of its largest buyers was located in Roda de Bará (Tarragona). Once the counterfeit bills were received, the latter distributed them to the dealers, who finally used them for purchases in shops in Barcelona and Tarragona.
During the investigation, the police seized a postal shipment containing €1,750 in fake €20 and €50 banknotes addressed to buyers based in Mieres (Asturias), who were arrested and brought to justice.
In the search carried out in a home in Roda de Bará, €12,150 were seized in counterfeit €20 and €50 bills. The police also found there numerous holographic bands and different tools for manipulating the bills. Finally, the police arrested the main distributor in Chiclana de la Frontera.
