This morning, military personnel from the second operational section of Naples of the Carabinieri anti-counterfeiting command, assisted in the executive phase by those from the first operational section of Rome and the cryptocurrency section of the same specialized command, as well as those from the provincial commands of Naples and Brescia, executed an order for the application of precautionary measures, issued by the investigating judge at the court of Naples, at the request of the local prosecutor's office, economic crime section, against twenty-four people.
Article Key Points
All are considered seriously suspected, to varying degrees, of criminal association aimed at the sale and circulation of counterfeit euro banknotes in concert with those who produced them.
Conspiracy with the aforementioned association in the circulation of counterfeit euro banknotes in concert with those who produced them.
The order imposes the arrest and transfer to prison for 9 (nine) people, the arrest and placing under house arrest for 10 (ten) people, as well as the prohibition of residence for 5 (five) people.
Specifically, the investigating judge shared the complex evidentiary platform summarized in the request of the public prosecutor. In fact, the extensive documentation contained in the investigation file allowed the investigating judge to consider supported by serious evidence the existence and operation of a criminal organization in the sale and circulation of counterfeit euro currency.
In this regard, the main source of evidence is constituted by the wiretaps, as well as by the extensive confirmations documented by the operating Carabinieri.
The investigation, conducted through the use of traditional investigative techniques such as, for example, observation, control and shadowing, as well as through the use of technical activities of interception of communications, even between those present, and video recording of the places where the suspects conducted their illicit activities and criminal conduct, has allowed, in little more than a year, the dismantling of a structured criminal organisation, operating in the neighbourhood extensive in Naples.
In a basement of the Vasto district the counterfeit banknotes plant
The organization dedicated to the purchase and subsequent sale of counterfeit euro currency, even abroad, with related purchase and sale transactions carried out mainly within a store - for which the judicial authority has ordered the seizure - which respected pre-established opening and closing times, like an ordinary commercial establishment, opening, every day, to buyers, from 12,00 to approximately 19,30, with the exception of Sundays and public holidays.
The complete identification of the promoter/organizer of the aforementioned criminal organization and of her associates, as well as of the individuals competing with the associates in the illicit activities.
The location of two warehouses where the criminal group was hiding large quantities of counterfeit euro currency, as well as the identification of a veritable stable of motorcycles made available to the associates to carry out the withdrawals of banknotes ordered from time to time by the buyers.
Starting from February 11, 2022, the military of the second operational section Naples of the Carabinieri anti-counterfeiting command began to collect decisive evidence of the hypothesized existence and operation of a criminal group dedicated to the sale of counterfeit euro currency.
On that date, in collaboration with the Carabinieri of the provincial command of Napoli, they identified a warehouse located in Naples, finding and seizing a total of 288.300 counterfeit euros, and arrested, in flagrante delicto, two people residing there.
Counterfeit banknote gang busted
On March 4, 2022, in Naples, they arrested a fugitive, originally from Pomigliano d'Arco, with a criminal record for serious association crimes, hit by an execution order for imprisonment, issued by the Attorney General of the Republic at the Court of Appeal of Naples following a sentence of 7 years and 4 months of imprisonment who, in the circumstance, was found in possession of false identity documents valid for expatriation.
On March 23, 2022, in Naples, they arrested two French citizens in flagrante delicto, finding and seizing a total of 16.650 counterfeit euros.
On May 23, 2022, in collaboration with the Carabinieri of the Naples provincial command, they identified a warehouse located in Naples, finding and seizing a total of 175.750 counterfeit euros, and arrested, in flagrante delicto, two people residing there.
On June 21, 2022, in Casoria, they arrested a criminal in flagrante delicto for possession of false identity documents valid for expatriation.
Article published on 27 February 2023 - 12:30
