Counterfeit dollars at half price: ESBU completes investigation into currency distribution scheme

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in Kyiv have completed a pre-trial investigation into the sale of counterfeit foreign currency. The indictment has been submitted to the court.

The investigation established that the suspects organized the illegal sale of counterfeit US dollars in 100 USD denominations of the new series. Acting by prior conspiracy, they sold the fake currency at half its actual face value.

During a subsequent attempt to sell the counterfeit currency, law enforcement officers detained one of the group members under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (which allows for detention without a court warrant if a person is caught during or immediately after committing a crime). The court ordered house arrest as a preventive measure for the suspects.

According to the results of the expert analysis, the banknotes they were selling did not match official U.S. currency in terms of print quality and security features. However, it was visually difficult to distinguish the counterfeits from the originals, even when using a banknote detector.

The suspects have been notified of suspicion under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 199 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (manufacture, storage, and sale of counterfeit foreign currency). The indictment has been submitted to the court.

The sanction of the article provides for  punishment of imprisonment for a term of 5 to 10 years with confiscation of property.

Operational support in the criminal proceedings was provided by the Department of Internal Security of the National Police of Ukraine. Procedural oversight was conducted by prosecutors from the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.