Europol is celebrating a successful crackdown on suspected online buyers of counterfeit money, resulting in the detention of hundreds of individuals. The operation was initiated following the arrest of a print shop owner in Austria earlier this year, who was found to be producing fake 10, 20, and 50 euro banknotes for sale on various dark web marketplaces.
The investigation revealed that the print shop owner had not concealed crucial information from law enforcement, leading to the identification of email addresses belonging to alleged buyers who had purchased approximately 10,000 counterfeit banknotes. Subsequently, a large-scale operation was launched on November 19, with the majority of arrests taking place between December 3-6.
During the operation, nearly 300 houses were searched across 13 countries, resulting in the detention of 235 suspects. Law enforcement officials seized a variety of items, including 1500 counterfeit notes, drugs, weapons such as guns, nunchaku, knives, and blades, computers, mobile phones, Bitcoin, and hardware for mining digital currency. Additionally, police uncovered two marijuana-growing facilities in Germany, a counterfeiting print facility and a marijuana farm in France.
Europol’s deputy director of operations, Wil van Gemert, emphasized that complete anonymity on the internet and the darknet is a myth, warning that engaging in illegal activities online could lead to law enforcement intervention. Europol remains committed to assisting member states in combating counterfeiting both in the physical world and online.
This successful operation follows Europol’s recent efforts to shut down over 33,000 websites selling counterfeit and stolen products, resulting in the arrest of 12 suspects and the freezing of over €1 million in bank accounts. Despite these victories, it is important to note that traditional police work offline is often crucial in disrupting dark web traders, as many perpetrators remain at large and illicit marketplaces continue to operate.
The continuous efforts of Europol and law enforcement agencies serve as a reminder that illegal activities online do not go unnoticed, and perpetrators may face consequences for their actions. The fight against counterfeiting and cybercrime remains ongoing, with Europol at the forefront of these efforts to safeguard the integrity of the euro and protect consumers from fraudulent activities.