Rome, December 22 – Italian Carabinieri have successfully dismantled an international counterfeit currency operation in Rome, seizing approximately one million euros in fake banknotes and arresting a 31-year-old man. The extensive investigation, which began in September 2025, involved significant international collaboration with Europol and police forces from Austria and Spain.
Arrest and Discovery of a Clandestine Printing Press
The operation culminated on the afternoon of December 15, 2025, when a 31-year-old resident of Acilia, an expert in IT, was apprehended in flagrante delicto. He was caught attempting to ship a package containing counterfeit 50-euro banknotes, with a total nominal value of 7,300 euros. A subsequent search of his home revealed a sophisticated clandestine printing press, equipped with computers, digital printers, and advanced graphic tools used for the production of the fake currency.
According to a statement from the Carabinieri, the investigation was coordinated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Rome. The Nucleo Operativo Antifalsificazione Monetaria of Rome and the Ostia Carabinieri Company were key players in the domestic efforts, working closely with international partners to neutralize a widespread network of counterfeit currency distribution across the Eurozone.
Seizures: Cash, Cryptocurrencies, and Equipment
During the raid, Carabinieri discovered
