15:00, 18 December 2012

MIA: network of counterfeiters revealed in Russia, who funded extremists in Northern Caucasus

As reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Russia, a large network of manufacturing counterfeit money, part of which was intended to fund extremist organizations in Northern Caucasus, was disclosed.

The disclosure operation of an underground network was launched in October 2011. The first stage of the operation took place from July to December this year in Dagestan, where five persons were detained at the attempt to sell more than 3.5 million fakes roubles.

During the second stage, conducted in the Moscow Region, a 29-year-old native of Dagestan and a 40-year-old native of Armenia were detained at an attempt to use one hundred of faked 5000-rouble banknotes. The houses they rented were searched, and two sets of printing equipment and supplies for the production of counterfeit money were found. The detainees were put into custody, says the website of the Russian MIA.

In total, during the operation, more than 6.5 million fake roubles were confiscated; and seven suspects were detained. The confiscated equipment allowed the criminals to print over 40 million faked roubles every month.