Counterfeit factory discovered in Suceava: record seizure of over one million euros and one kilogram of cocaine
An international group specialized in counterfeiting money was dismantled by the Romanian authorities. In an action carried out between Suceava and Ilfov counties, police officers and DIICOT prosecutors discovered a real “mint” and they picked up hundreds of kilograms of materials used to print the fake banknotes.
Today, March 24, 2026, the policemen of the Iași Organized Crime Brigade, together with the prosecutors of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism – Iași Territorial Service, carried out six home searches in the counties of Suceava and Ilfov. The investigation concerns the commission of the crimes of forming an organized criminal group, forgery of coins, circulation of counterfeit foreign currency and acquisition of counterfeit non-cash payment instruments.
“From the data obtained up to this point, it emerged that, in October 2025, four people, three Romanian citizens and one Italian citizen, would have constituted, in Suceava county, a group specialized in currency counterfeiting“, the statement of the authorities states.
The manufacture of counterfeit money
Investigations revealed that between October and November 2025, members of the group procured a large quantity of special paper from abroad, used for the production of fake banknotes. Later, the leader of the group, a Romanian citizen, purchased high-performance equipment and set up a clandestine printing house in a location in the rural area of Suceava county.
According to the investigators, the Italian citizen involved in the group has international notoriety in the field of money counterfeiting, having the role of training the other members and facilitating the procurement of the necessary materials and the circulation of counterfeit money, both in Romania and in other countries.
The investigation also revealed that the members of the group aimed to create criminal links in Bulgaria, a country that recently adopted the euro currency, frequently traveling to the neighboring state.
Spectacular captures in Sofia
Yesterday, March 23, 2026, as part of the cooperation between the Romanian and Bulgarian authorities, the Italian citizen, two Romanians and two Bulgarians were spotted in Sofia while they were in possession and transporting approximately 1,200,000 counterfeit euros, in 100 euro bills. In the same context, a kilogram of cocaine was also discovered.
At one of the searched locations in Romania, a real “mint” arranged in a building under construction. The investigation led to the seizure of printers, electronic components, special paper for banknotes and counterfeit banknotes in denominations of 50 and 100 euros.
Continuation of the investigation
The activities are ongoing, and the hearings will take place at the headquarters of DIICOT – Iași Territorial Service. The action was carried out with the support of gendarmes from the Suceava County Gendarmerie Inspectorate and the Special Intervention Brigade of the Gendarmerie.
The authorities specified that, during the entire criminal process, the investigated persons benefit from the rights and guarantees provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as the presumption of innocence.
