site.btaProduction Base for Counterfeit Money Busted in NE Bulgaria

A base for the production of counterfeit money was uncovered in the northeastern village of Dobrina on Sunday, the Interior Ministry said in a press release Monday. During the urgent action undertaken by the Chief Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (CDCOC), equipment for making counterfeit money was found and two persons were detained.

The specialized operation was conducted following alerts received since early 2024 for the use of the counterfeit banknotes in question, mostly in shops in Sofia. Over 150 cases have been registered.

Seized during the operation were 291 banknotes of BGN 100, 55 banknotes of BGN 20, a laser printer, a laptop, a flash memory with files for printing various banknotes of BGN 10, 20, 50, and 100 as well as EUR 20 and 50, and printing materials.

One person was detained on site during the production process; the other was subsequently arrested for alleged involvement in the production. The detainees, one of whom is underage, are to remain in custody for 24 hours.

Pretrial proceedings have been launched. Work on the case continues.