An organized crime group involved in circulating counterfeit banknotes – dollars and euros, as well in holding counterfeit Bulgarian levs has been dismantled in Plovdiv, BTA reports. Six people have been arrested, including the leader. The criminal group is headed by a 42-year-old Russian citizen permanently residing in this country, representatives of the District Prosecutor's Office and the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior informed at a joint briefing. His accomplices are Bulgarians.

The pre-trial proceedings in the case were initiated after a signal from exchange offices and casinos, which reported 79 counterfeit banknotes worth 3,950 dollars. The damages established amount to 16,900 US dollars and 2,000 euros.

“The banknotes are of extremely high quality, they can hardly be distinguished and recognized as fake,” Deputy District Prosecutor Chavdar Groshev said. There is evidence that the counterfeit money was printed abroad, brought into the country through the leader of the group and distributed to the other participants.

The group was exposed with the help of the U.S. Secret Service due to the counterfeit dollars found.

Editor: Diana Tsankova

Publication in English: Alexander Markov

Photos: BNR - Plovdiv