site.btaThree Arrested in Sofia for Possession of High-Quality Counterfeit Euro Notes

On Wednesday, the Economic Police detained three men in the Ovcha Kupel district of Sofia in possession of counterfeit euro banknotes with a total value equivalent to BGN 10,000. “The banknotes are in EUR 200 denominations and are of exceptionally high quality — so much so that even experienced bank employees struggle to detect them,” wrote Interior Minister Daniel Mitov on Facebook.

He added that, according to information from the Sofia Directorate of the Interior Ministry, this is the first time such forgeries have been detected in Bulgaria, although they are already known across much of Europe. “This is why the operation has also attracted the interest of several partner agencies. There are strong indications the money was produced outside the country,” the minister commented.

“The introduction of the euro is a strategic process for Bulgaria, and we will not allow it to be exploited by criminal networks,” Mitov said. According to him, the successful police operation in Ovcha Kupel is a clear example of why prevention is so important.

He also advised Bulgarians: “Do not trust unregulated financial institutions and do not exchange currency at locations that are not officially licensed.”

“Our top priority is to protect Bulgarian citizens from fraud related to the transition from the lev to the single European currency,” Mitov concluded.