Mossos of the Ponent Investigation Division and the Central Currency Counterfeiting Unit have dismantled a group that introduced counterfeit bills into nightlife establishments in Barcelona, made purchases through trading applications between individuals and introduced them by drip into the demarcation of Lleida. In the two phases of the investigation, six people have been arrested and are accused of crimes of currency counterfeiting and membership in a criminal group.
In May 2023, investigators from the Central Currency Counterfeiting Unit became aware of high-quality counterfeit 50 euro banknotes being put into circulation. At first, the people who placed this counterfeit currency used nightlife venues in the town of Barcelona, in order to take advantage of the little light and movement of workers, and introduce the 50 euro bills into the economic circuit through the purchase of low-value drinks, obtaining a greater benefit with this practice.
Subsequently, and as a result of the investigation carried out, the researchers introduced counterfeit banknotes into the economic circuit in two different ways. On the one hand, they were able to prove that the authors introduced these counterfeit banknotes into the economic market by making purchases through private-to-individual trading applications. The investigators associated a modus operandi, which led them to the same group, which introduced banknotes to entertainment venues in Barcelona.
The modus operandi in question involved a young woman heading to the location where the physical transaction was to take place, accompanied by another man. The investigators' hypothesis is that this man who accompanied him would be the intellectual author of all the events. The transactions were normally in exchange for high-value telephone terminals.
On the other hand, it was also possible to determine that in recent months there has been a notable increase in counterfeit banknotes in the city of Lleida, using the “drip” technique. This trickle was located, mainly in Lleida and in municipalities of its influence. At this point, a joint research team was established, which was joined by researchers from the Ponent DIC. With the efforts that were derived, it was possible to locate those investigated in different towns in the Lleida district.
On September 13, in a first exploitation of the case, five detainees were made, four men and a woman between the ages of 22 and 27. and 3 entries in Lleida capital. 550 euros in counterfeit bills and nearly 4,000 euros in legal tender were seized. As a result of subsequent investigations, it was determined that the counterfeit banknotes had been acquired in the town of Térmens and the investigators were able to identify the main distributor, who acquired the banknotes in Italy, and resided in a house located in a rural area of the same municipality.
The distributor is also being investigated for sending 1,000 euros in counterfeit bills abroad through a currency exchange company. At the same time, investigators were able to determine that he had made payments with counterfeit currency to a sex worker for her services.
On October 24, 2023, the second exploitation phase of the investigation was carried out in which the arrest of one of the dealers of the counterfeit bills, aged 30, was carried out, and three entries and searches were carried out in properties. of Térmens and Vilanova de la Barca. The investigation remains open and new arrests are not ruled out.
