Criminal ring detained for uttering counterfeit money in Moldova

Chisinau, 25 March /MOLDPRES/- Prosecutor General’s Office (PG) and the General Police Inspectorate (IGP) has detained a criminal ring involved in uttering counterfeit money in extremely large proportions.

Prosecutor Sergiu Rosu during a news conference today, said police officers on 21 March 2015 arrested three individuals from Chisinau, aged between 25 and 35, who were trying to put into circulation 33 thousand counterfeit euros. 

According to Rosu, “in late 2015, an undercover officer purchased an amount of counterfeit money from one of the group members. In March 2015, police officers purchased ten thousand counterfeit euros again. Subsequently, policemen received another 20 thousand counterfeit euros, due to be put into circulation. The banknotes’s face value were 50 and 200 euros, having the same registration number.

The head of IPG’s economic fraud investigation department, Alexei Bacos said counterfeit banknotes were highly qualitative and their counterfeit elements were could hardly be spotted. “Law enforcement bodies ascertained that the counterfeit money was brought from EU member states and sold as follows: the perpetrators were receiving 30 % of the value of the banknotes of the forged money. They have also ascertained that one of the group members is a former border police officer,” Bacos noted.

Law enforcement officers are investigating the case and will establish the circumstances of the counterfeit money’s circulation throughout Moldova, along with other accomplices. Group members were arrested for 30 days and risk from seven to 15 years of prison for uttering counterfeit money.

(Reporter P. Beregoi, Editor L. Alcaza)