A citizen of the Russian Federation has organized a channel for importing counterfeit currency into Bulgaria, it was announced at a joint briefing of the District Prosecutor's Office - Plovdiv and the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Plovdiv.
The criminal led a criminal group of six people, operating since the end of 2024, and assessed as a threat to national security.
In an operation by the police and the National Security Agency, searches were carried out at 18 addresses in Plovdiv and Asenovgrad, including in the Stolypinovsky district. Several of the participants were detained. High-quality counterfeit banknotes were seized, as well as yellow metal jewelry.
According to information from the investigation, the scheme involved placing the counterfeits through exchange offices, where they were exchanged for real leva, as well as by loading playing cards in casinos and halls.
After a short game, the participants wanted the balance on the cards paid out in real money.