By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
The French Judicial Police (DCPJ) and the Italian Carabinieri Corps, with support from Europol and Eurojust, arrested 23 individuals and dismantled 2 criminal networks suspected of producing and distributing counterfeit banknotes in France and Italy. The networks produced various denominations: 20 and 50 euro counterfeit banknotes and distributed EUR 45 000 in 100 euro counterfeit banknotes since 2016, causing EUR 4.5 million worth of damage to the economy. The case was initiated earlier this year when the French National Police specialised units were tipped off about the distribution of fake banknotes. Investigations led the police to discover an organised crime group producing counterfeit bank note sin a print shop in Naples, Italy. The banknotes were later distributed by a different crime ring in Nancy, France. The criminals in France regularly drove to Naples where they visited members of a Neapolitan family firm to whom they bought the counterfeit banknotes. Once back in France they resold the bank notes and they were put into circulation from Nancy to other EU Member States.
Print Shop Where Banknotes Were Supplied Is Dismantled In Naples
The operation day took place on 16 October, after establishing a Joint Investigation Team in May, between the authorities from both countries with the assistance of Europol and Eurojust. In France, nine suspects were taken into custody alongside the search of their respective houses. In the meantime 14 members of the illegal production group were arrested in Naples, the same city in which the police officers dismantled the print shop where the banknotes were supplied. Printing and digital equipment was also seized. During the action day, French police officers were deployed to Italy and Italian Carabinieri officers took part in the operation in France.
The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, better known under the name Europol, formerly the European Police Office and Europol Drugs Unit, is the law enforcement agency of the European Union (EU) formed in 1998 to handle criminal intelligence and combat serious international organised crime and terrorism through cooperation between competent authorities of EU member states. Europol has 1,065 employees and Annual budget of €116.4 million.
Eurojust is an agency of the European Union (EU) dealing with judicial co-operation in criminal matters among agencies of the member states. It is seated in The Hague, Netherlands. Established in 2002, it was created to improve handling of serious cross-border and organised crime by stimulating investigative and prosecutorial co-ordination. Eurojust is composed of a college formed of 28 national members—experienced judges, prosecutors, or police officers of equivalent competence from each EU member state.
