site.btaLaw Enforcers Bust Dollar-Faking, Artefact-Trafficking Rings

113 HOME AFFAIRS - BUST - FAKE DOLLARS, ARTEFACTS

Law Enforcers Bust
Dollar-Faking, Artefact-Trafficking
Rings


Sofia, November 5 (BTA) - At a news briefing on Monday, the Bulgarian prosecution service and the Chief Directorate for Combating Organized Crime reported the bust of two crime rings: one counterfeiting US dollar bills and another trafficking artefacts to Spain.

The crackdown on the dollar counterfeiting operation took place in Varna (on the Black Sea) on November 2. The US Secret Service shared in the operation. The ring had apparently operated since March 2017. The law enforcers carried out searches and seized 1.3 million fake dollars in 100 dollar bills (part of them were found in a private residence in the Euxinograd locality), machines, materials and inks for their manufacture, and Interior Ministry and Maritime Administration ID badges.

Three persons were arrested during the bust and were left in indefinite custody by the Specialized Criminal Court.

The operation against the artefacts trafficking ring was carried out on October 23 by Bulgarian law enforcers jointly with the Spanish authorities, Europol and Eurojust. Thirteen Bulgarian citizens (four in Bulgaria and nine in Spain) were arrested, 20 residences were searched, and 30,600 coins, jewellery, ceramics and other artefacts (intended to be trafficked to Spain via a transport company) were seized, along with 170,000 euro and metal detectors.

The case against the criminal group will be conducted in Spain. RY/LG
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