Foto Europol
The investigation showed that the main channel for distributing counterfeit money was through postal parcels. From June to November 2025, law enforcement officers intercepted 379 parcels containing counterfeit currency, according to Bild. Based on these seizures, 70 new criminal investigations have been initiated. Information about the detention of suspects has not yet been disclosed.
According to Europol, over 90% of the detected counterfeit money was sent from China. The agency emphasized that this indicates the country’s key role as a source of counterfeit currency entering the European market.
Romania distinguished itself
Romanian authorities made a special contribution to the operation. They managed to seize more than 4.8 million counterfeit Euro banknotes, as well as to find a warehouse where more than 223 thousand counterfeit bills were stored. In addition, more than 220,000 counterfeit coins in euros, U.S. dollars and British pounds sterling were confiscated.
In total, law enforcers seized more than seven million counterfeit banknotes and coins. Among them are 4.8 million euros, 2.3 million US dollars, 23,302 British pounds and 4,800 Swiss francs.
Law enforcement agencies of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, Great Britain, as well as the USA took part in the international operation.
Europol notes that such joint actions remain a key tool in the fight against cross-border crime and the undermining of Europe’s financial security.
