Italian finance police arrested man, who concealed a haul of counterfeit 50 euro banknotes equivalent 17 millions euro ($21,8 millions) in a van outside shopping center near southern city of Naples.

The massive seizure tops number of counterfeit banknotes withdrawn from circulation by European Central Bank in the first half of year.

Police spotted a man in a distant corner of shopping centers parking lot, who was "frenetically" moving packages to his van from another vehicle. Police became suspicious and searched the van- as a result fake banknotes were found hidden underneath stationery in 15 boxes.

Man , accused of counterfeitng and distribution of fake notes, has no criminal record. Also, his name remains unknown. Now investigators struggling to find the manufacturer of counterfeits.

The Naples area is hobted  for counterfeiting in Italy.  The top finance police counterfeiting investigator in Naples, Gerardo Marinelli, said this week half of all fake bills in the euro zone come from the Naples area, according to estimates based on previously sequestered banknotes.

Seized 340 000 notes denominated 50 euro exceed all 331 000 fake notes in all denominations, seized by ECB in 18 countries in the first half-year, but this is small fraction of 16 billion notes which are in circulation now, said ECB.

ECB introduced new 10-euro note on 23 september 2014, which have enhanced security features in order to prevent counterfeiting.

 

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