A FAKE cash enterprise in the Costa del Sol has been shut down for supplying falsified euros across Europe.
Authorities have arrested an individual in Malaga after running an alleged counterfeit cash operation from his own home, churning out fake euros and shipping them across Europe.
The suspect is accused of producing €20, €50, and €100 notes in a fully equipped lab before selling them on the dark web in exchange for cryptocurrency.
Investigators say the scheme occurred by sending fake banknotes from post offices in Malaga to destinations across Europe, with Germany as one of the main targets.
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To avoid detection, the suspect is claimed to have used fake names and details with the shipments.
Spanish police opened the case after receiving a tip-off from Austrian officials last October, who flagged a series of suspicious dark web purchases of counterfeit cash that was paid for in cryptocurrency.
Police were able to track down the suspected culprit after identifying a pattern of intercepted packages all linked back to Malaga.
Once the alleged offender was located, officers swooped in on his home, discovering a fully functioning forgery workshop.
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The video shared by Policia Nacional shows officers as they enter the location of the illicit operation and confiscate the illegal gear.
Among the items seized were watermark stamps, holographic paper, specialty inks, and printing equipment used to mimic real euro notes.
Police recovered €30,000 in counterfeit cash and cryptocurrency assets worth around €150,000.
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The operation was carried out by Spain’s Policia Nacional along with the Tax Agency, Europol and Austrian authorities, which uncovered a sprawling distribution network involving more than 500 postal shipments.
The suspect has been arrested and brought before Spanish court as investigations continue.
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