Law enforcement authorities from 18 countries have stopped an estimated EUR 1.2 billion in counterfeit banknotes and coins from entering circulation during Operation DECOY III, a Europol-coordinated action led by Austria, Portugal, and Spain.

The joint customs and police operation targeted criminal networks distributing fake currency through postal services. More than 90% of the seized counterfeit currency was linked to shipments originating from China, highlighting a major source of counterfeit cash entering Europe.

In total, officers intercepted more than 7 million counterfeit items, including: 4.8 million euro banknotes and coins , 2.3 million US dollar items , 23302 British pound items and 4800 Swiss franc items