Massive Fake Money Bust: Nearly €66 Million in Counterfeit Cash Seized in Global Operation
In a major international sting, police and customs teams from 18 countries, backed by Europol, have stopped a flood of fake money being smuggled through the post. The operation uncovered nearly 1 million counterfeit items, with a total fake value of over €66 million.
Fake euros. Fake U.S. dollars. Fake British pounds. All hidden in packages and sent through postal services to unsuspecting buyers, or criminals looking to spend big with bogus bills.
What Was Caught
297 packages of fake money intercepted
Counterfeits worth:
- €280,000
- $679,000
- £12,000
Over 990,000 fake notes and coins seized
Many of the fake notes were “movie money”, bills that look real but have small print saying they’re fake. Trouble is, those disclaimers are easy to miss. Criminals use them to trick people in real-life transactions.
Global Crime, Global Response
The investigation ran from October 2024 to March 2025, led by Austria, Portugal, and Spain, and supported by Europol and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
Thanks to better teamwork between police and customs officials, this second phase of the operation was far more successful than the first. One big win came in Romania, where police seized $600,000 in fake cash in a single raid.
Criminal Networks Exposed
Authorities discovered that most of the fake money was being produced outside of Europe, in countries across Asia, America, and the Middle East. These networks ship the money into Europe disguised as regular mail, hoping it slips through unnoticed.
But this sting didn’t just stop fake bills. It opened the door to 102 new investigations into the criminal groups behind the counterfeits.
What’s Next?
Europol says the success of this operation came from smarter tracking tools and tighter cooperation between countries. These upgrades helped flag suspicious packages and spot new trafficking methods.
And they’re not stopping here.
More investigations are now underway, and with more eyes on the mail, officials say counterfeiters will have a much harder time sneaking their fakes into Europe.
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