Clandestine Printing Press Uncovered in Torre Annunziata, Over €2.8 Million in Counterfeit Notes Seized
Naples, March 18 – Italian financial police (Guardia di Finanza) have successfully dismantled a clandestine printing press in Torre Annunziata, a municipality in the Metropolitan City of Naples, leading to the seizure of over €2.8 million in counterfeit banknotes and the arrest of one individual.
The operation, which took place yesterday, March 18, 2026, uncovered a sophisticated setup designed for the production of fake currency. Authorities found a substantial quantity of counterfeit banknotes, primarily €50 denominations, along with a smaller number of €100 notes. In addition to the fake currency, twelve thousand counterfeit holograms for €50 and €100 notes were confiscated. The raid also yielded clichés, frames, a PC with mass storage devices, printers, reams of watermarked paper, and various other consumables essential for the counterfeiting process.
Sophisticated Counterfeiting Operation
The clandestine ‘laboratory’ was equipped with numerous ink-jet and laser printers, controlled by a PC running professional graphics software. Cutting and punching tools, clichés, and a variety of consumables including special inks, varnishes, toners, and powders were also found. Three frames for manual finishing of the banknotes were discovered, indicating a meticulous process to mimic genuine currency. Investigators noted that the counterfeit notes underwent an ‘aging’ procedure to make them appear more realistic and used, thereby increasing their deceptive quality.
Euro banknotes are designed with several security features, such as raised elements, watermarks, security threads, see-through numbers, holograms, and iridescent stripes, all of which the counterfeiters attempted to replicate or bypass. Had these counterfeit notes been successfully introduced into the market, they could have generated over €280,000 based on current illicit market valuations.
Narcotics Discovery and Arrest
During the search of the premises, financial police also discovered approximately 2.2 kilograms of illicit substances, largely marijuana and several blocks of hashish, cleverly concealed within the property. The seizure of these drugs prevented them from reaching local drug trafficking networks.
The owner of the premises, an Italian citizen, was arrested in connection with the operation. He has been placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Torre Annunziata. The arrest was subsequently validated by the preliminary investigation judge (GIP), who ordered his pre-trial detention in prison.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the full extent of the counterfeiting network and any further individuals involved in the illicit activities.
Source: adnkronos.com
