In Poland, a former Ukrainian intelligence officer was detained for counterfeiting money

In the city of Sochaczew in central Poland, law enforcement officers detained a former employee of the Ukrainian special services on charges of counterfeiting money and producing drugs.

This was reported by the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime of the Polish police.

The suspect was identified after 76 counterfeit 500-zloty banknotes were removed from circulation at the end of last year, prompting an investigation to find those responsible for producing them.

“In Sochaczew, with the assistance of officers from the Central Counterterrorist Unit of Police (BOA), a counterfeiter and his wife, a Ukrainian citizen, were detained. In their apartment, police seized a production line and printing plates for 100- and 200-zloty banknotes,” the bureau said in a press release.

The counterfeiter turned out to be a former employee of Ukrainian intelligence, a self-taught specialist with expertise in computer technology and electronics, law enforcement officials said. In his apartment, officers found a fully equipped counterfeit banknote production line located right next to his bed.

In addition, an accomplice of the Ukrainian suspect, a Russian citizen, was detained in Wrocław. Components needed for the production of methamphetamine were found in his possession. In Katowice and Poznań, authorities also detained individuals who had provided bank accounts to other members of the group.

In total, seven people were detained in the case involving counterfeiting and drug production, and four searches were carried out. As a result, police seized electronic equipment, a banknote production line, and precursors for manufacturing methamphetamine. In producing counterfeit 500-, 200-, and 100-zloty banknotes, the counterfeiters used specialized knowledge in computer technology and electronics.

The members of the gang could face up to 25 years in prison for these crimes.