Romanian police seize nearly €500,000 in counterfeit money during Satu Mare raids

Police from the Serviciul de Combatere a Criminalității Organizate in Satu Mare arrested two men, aged 43 and 44, after they attempted to sell almost €100,000 in forged €500 banknotes and 1,000 Swiss franc counter‑feits. A search of one suspect’s vehicle uncovered an additional €404,000 in counterfeit notes.

The arrests were part of a wider operation, code‑named Jupiter, in which officers executed 23 search warrants across the county on 9 June. The raids targeted businesses and residences suspected of contraband and the circulation of falsified products. Authorities confiscated 169,980 cigarette packs, 8,601 containers of liquid detergent, more than €30,000 in cash, over 100,000 lei, accounting documents, storage media, mobile phones and other evidence. Three individuals were taken to police headquarters for questioning. The investigations continue under the supervision of the local prosecutor’s office and the National Anticorruption Directorate.