Bulgarian Ring Smashed

Police searched 20 houses in the central Bulgarian Plovdiv region, seized counterfeiting devices and arrested 17 people, Europol reported in a press release.

The false 100, 200 and 500 euro notes were mainly distributed in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain. An agreement on a joint operation was signed in March by Bulgaria, Spain, Europol and prosecutor cooperation group Eurojust.

AReputation for Corruption

Bulgaria, since joining the EU in 2007, has gained the reputation as the most corrupt country in the 27-nation bloc and organized crime remains a problem. Counterfeiting money is a particular specialty of Bulgarian crime groups, EU authorities noted in 2004, with counterfeiting goods and documents forgery also at the forefront. The country has been under unprecedented EU monitoring since joining the EU, and has seen millions of euros in development aid from the bloc frozen over the lack of progress in fighting corruption and crime.

Europol, the EU’s police cooperation body, helped with coordination and information exchange in the operation.  

“This was an excellent international police operation, led by the Bulgarian authority, that has delivered a massive blow to a major gang of counterfeiters,” said Europol director Rob Wainwright. “I pay tribute to those involved in the operation and I am pleased that Europol could help through first rate operational analysis, technical support and operational coordination. This operation is also a successful example of the capabilities of the EU legislative tool of Joint Investigation Teams.”

--Beth Kampschror