Controversy around fake banknotes worth 1 billion euros, captured in Constanta Port. “Prop Copy” are inscribed, as a film props. Romanian Police: “I saw the jokes about” movie money “”
Images with the false banknotes captured in the port of Constanța. Photo: Romanian Police
The Romanian police announced on Friday the capture of 4.8 million counterfeit banknotes, with a huge nominal value, not less than 960,000,000 euros, but then jokes appeared on the social networks related to the police operation after even in the photographs published by the people of the law appeared banknotes “” them in movies.
The confiscation of the 160 boxes in Constanța port took place in the International Decoy III operation, under the aegis of Empact, coordinated at European level by Europol, which aims to identify suspicious packages containing counterfeit banknotes entering the European Union such as China, Turkey, informs a statement of the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR).
One billion euros in forged banknotes, captured in Constanța port. The investigation was coordinated by Europol
But in the photographs given to the IGPR publicity, banknotes inscribed with “propy” appear. Also, the press release states that banknotes totaling 720,000,000 euros did not have a series, which is an obvious sample of lack of authenticity.
Specifications of the Romanian Police
On the other hand, the spokesman of the Romanian Police, Octavian Dan, said that the notebook graphics is close to the authentic one, which can induce some people.
“These banknotes are counterfeit. They can mislead them as they have similar graphics the authentic banknotes. Research is carried out,” Octavian Dan explained at Digi24.
Subsequently, the police came back in a Facebook post, saying that the people who ordered the banknotes did not intend to use them in movies, but to introduce them into circulation.
“I saw the comments and jokes about” movie money “. That's right, they wrote “propp copy”, but those who ordered them did not plan to play in a movie-but to “introduce them to the scenario” elsewhere: in the real circuit. We know that it seems fun at first glance, but that's exactly how many cheating attempts begin: with something that “looks” harmless. Therefore, our intervention was a preventive, not “spectacular” one, to prevent some people from becoming victims, as has happened in other cases. Better to be ironized because we acted on time, than to regret that we did not do it ”, it is written in the post.
The IGPR also gave an example of deception with banknotes inscribed “Prop Copy”.
“On 07.09.2025, police officers specialized in combating crime in Olt were notified that, in Coteana commune, Olt county, a minor, aged 16, placed 20 banknotes from the 50 € 50 -inscriptions (Copy), at a commercial company, receiving 4.800 lei. The verifications carried out was established that he purchased the false banknotes from a store, in the municipality of Slatina. € 50, with a nominal value of € 274,400 ”, the police say.
