Lisbon: Law enforcement authorities from 18 nations have successfully intercepted approximately £1.2 billion in counterfeit banknotes and coins from entering circulation during Operation DECOY III, an initiative coordinated by Europol and led by Austria, Portugal, and Spain.
According to Emirates News Agency, this joint customs and police operation specifically targeted criminal networks that were distributing fake currency through postal services. Romanian authorities played a significant role by seizing over 4.8 million altered-design euro banknotes and dismantling a storage facility containing more than 223,000 counterfeit notes. Additionally, separate seizures in Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States uncovered more than 220,000 counterfeit coins in euros, pounds, and US dollars.
The operation spanned six months, from June to November 2025, during which authorities seized a total of 379 parcels containing fake currency. These seizures have led to the initiation of 70 new investigations aimed at uncovering the criminal networks responsible for the counterfeit currency distribution.
In total, law enforcement intercepted over 7 million counterfeit items. This haul included 4.8 million euro banknotes and coins, 2.3 million US dollar-denominated items, 23,302 pounds sterling, and 4,800 Swiss francs. The estimated total value of the counterfeit currency seized stands at £1.2 billion.
The operation saw collaboration between authorities from countries including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Trkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Europol and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) supported the operation by facilitating intelligence exchange, aiding in the detection of suspect parcels, and refining risk indicators for future actions.
