Austria seizes more than 6,000 counterfeit banknotes worth 383,030 euros in international operation
Success through close cooperation between the Austrian customs office and the Federal Criminal Police Office
In a successful international operation, 6,143 counterfeit banknotes with a total value of 383,030 euros were seized in Austria. The operation, coordinated by Europol and led by Spain, Portugal and Austria, was aimed at preventing the distribution of counterfeit money via postal services throughout Europe. The operational phase lasted seven months and the counterfeit money was seized in postal items from China, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Belgium.
‘I would like to thank our customs officers for their commitment and excellent cooperation with the police authorities in the fight against international financial crime. We will continue to work together with our European partners at full steam to stop these unscrupulous counterfeiting gangs and put a stop to their activities. This will protect the Austrian economy from damage and increase citizens‘ trust in our currency,’ said Finance Minister Magnus Brunner.
‘Through prevention, rapid detection and effective prosecution, we are consistently working with our partners to combat the spread of counterfeit money and thus ensure security in Austria,’ said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
The most frequently counterfeited notes were 50 and 20 euros.
In total, over 14 million euros in counterfeit money were seized in Operation DECOY, coordinated by Europol and involving 18 countries. During the operational phase, 174 packages of counterfeit money were seized, leading to 144 new police investigations into the criminal networks responsible. A total of 148,130 counterfeit items were intercepted, including 134,949 euro banknotes and coins, 9,186 British pounds and 3,595 US dollars.
The majority of the items seized were banknotes with modified designs, often referred to as ‘movie money’. These reproductions resemble genuine banknotes in shape and colour, but contain a small clue that they are counterfeit. However, these clues are often overlooked, allowing criminals to pass them off as real money.
The most frequently seized denomination was the €50, followed by the €20.
Close cooperation between customs and police
The success of Operation DECOY, which made it possible to intercept counterfeit money at crucial entry points, is based on the close cooperation between customs and the Federal Criminal Police Office, which is acting as co-leader in Operation DECOY.
Criminal organisations often exploit the differences or gaps between law enforcement agencies, particularly when it comes to the distribution of counterfeit money via postal consignments. Customs officers stationed at border checkpoints were crucial in detecting counterfeit banknotes and coins, while police forces carried out the necessary investigations to track down and dismantle the criminal groups responsible.
18 countries participated in the operation
Europol and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) supported the operation by promoting the exchange of information, helping to detect suspicious packages and refining risk indicators for future efforts to combat the spread of counterfeit money.
In addition to Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States also participated in the operation.