Europol Operation Blocks €1.2 Billion in Fake Banknotes, With China-Linked Shipments Under Scrutiny
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Law enforcement authorities from 18 countries have stopped an estimated EUR 1.2 billion in counterfeit banknotes and coins from entering circulation during Operation DECOY III, a Europol-coordinated action led by Austria, Portugal, and Spain.
The joint customs and police operation targeted criminal networks distributing fake currency through postal services.
Majority of seizures linked to China
More than 90% of the seized counterfeit currency was linked to shipments originating from China, highlighting a major source of counterfeit cash entering Europe.
Romanian authorities alone intercepted over 4.8 million altered-design euro banknotes and dismantled a storage facility holding more than 223 000 counterfeit notes shipped from China.
In addition, three separate seizures in Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States uncovered more than 220 000 counterfeit coins in euros, pounds, and US dollars. All shipments were traced back to China.
Millions of counterfeit items intercepted
During the six-month operational phase between June and November 2025, authorities seized 379 parcels containing fake currency. The seizures triggered 70 new investigations into the criminal networks behind them. The results are being released now after the operational phase and debriefings were completed.
In total, officers intercepted more than 7 million counterfeit items, including:
4.8 million euro banknotes and coins
2.3 million US dollar items
23 302 British pound items
4 800 Swiss franc items
The total value of the seized counterfeit currency is estimated at EUR 1.2 billion.
International cooperation
The operation involved authorities from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Europol and OLAF supported the operation by facilitating intelligence exchange, helping detect suspect parcels and refining risk indicators for future actions.
Europol is also working with the European Central Bank, under the coordination of the European Commission, to strengthen cooperation with Chinese authorities to tackle counterfeit currency at its source
