Counterfeit euro operation in Mersin: 5,000 coins seized
The Mersin Provincial Police Department has seized 5,000 counterfeit 2-euro coins brought from Istanbul to be circulated during the tourism season. It was determined that 3 of the 5 suspects caught in the operation were also wanted for various other crimes.
İHA
Mersin police seized 5,000 counterfeit 2-euro coins with a market value of approximately 430,000 TL in an operation. Five suspects were taken into custody regarding the counterfeit money, which was reportedly brought from Istanbul to be used during the tourism season.
Teams from the Provincial Police Department's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) Branch launched an investigation into the crime of 'counterfeiting currency.' Conducting an operation at a designated address, the teams seized 5,000 counterfeit 2-euro coins hidden in 5 black bags and taped shut.
It was revealed that 3 of the 5 suspects taken into custody were also wanted for different crimes, including robbery and aggravated fraud.
Within the scope of the investigation, it was learned that the suspects planned to circulate the counterfeit money during the increased tourist activity in the summer months.
The Mersin Police had also carried out a 300 million lira counterfeit dollar operation one month ago.
H.U., who set up a printing press to produce counterfeit dollars, Y.T., who circulated the money, and A.T., a courier who distributed it to other provinces, were caught in raids. During the searches, 2 million 137 thousand 200 counterfeit dollars, 4 million 800 thousand dollars worth of counterfeit money ready to be cut, 5 printing machines, 2 money counting machines, one control device, and 2 hard disks were found.
In total, the amount of counterfeit money, both fully printed and in the preparation stage, reached 7 million 99 thousand 200 dollars, and the suspects were arrested by the court they were brought before.