Members of a group of counterfeiters who planned to put 100,000 counterfeit banknotes on the market were detained in Lviv. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi
with reference to the National Police.
It is noted that the dealers sold the 2006 $100 banknotes through currency exchange offices in the region or bought household appliances and gadgets for counterfeit money. The police detained the organisers and five members of the organised group. The distributors received 20% of the proceeds from the sale. The police seized $23,000, of which $17,000 was counterfeit.
According to the investigation, the group was organised by two residents of the region aged 24 and 29. The younger one, as a direct leader, coordinated the actions of other members, stored the counterfeit, determined the places of sale of the counterfeit, conducted briefings and distributed the reward among all members of the group. Another provided the counterfeit currency to the sellers, having previously checked whether the banknotes were accepted at currency exchange offices, reported to the group leader and handed over the counterfeit money received from the sale.
Five other members of the group searched for distributors who received 20% of the proceeds, acted as drivers and sold the counterfeit themselves. they sold old-style $100 banknotes issued in 2006 through currency exchange offices in different cities of the region in small amounts ranging from $1,000 to $3,500. They also used them to pay for the purchase of equipment or gadgets.
According to intelligence, the criminals planned to issue 100,000 counterfeit dollars to the consumer market. To prevent their criminal intentions, law enforcement officers took measures to detain them.
Law enforcement officers detained seven suspects. As a result of the searches, investigators seized UAH 221,000, more than USD 23,000, of which 17,000 were counterfeit, 9 premium cars, and draft records.
The detainees were served a notice of suspicion of possession, transportation for use in the sale of goods or sale of counterfeit money.
Pre-trial restraints were imposed on the defendants: six were held in custody with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 242,240 to UAH 4,000,000, and one was placed under nightly house arrest. They face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.