Fake Currency from China Seized in Operation Decoy Crackdown

On 11 February 2026, Europol announced that Operation DECOY III prevented an estimated €1.2 billion counterfeit banknotes and coins from entering circulation.

This was a joint operation between customs and police organisations that were targeting criminal networks distributing fake currency through the post.

From June 2025 to November 2025, authorities seized 379 parcels containing counterfeit currency, which triggered 70 new investigations into the criminal organisations involved. Over 7 million pieces of counterfeit currency were intercepted: 4.8 million euro banknotes and coins, 2.3 million US dollar items, 23,302 British pound items and 4,800 Swiss franc items.

More than 90% of the seized counterfeit currency was linked to shipments originating from China. It is widely known in the security industry that counterfeit currency, coins, and security features can be obtained from businesses in China.

One of the images included in the Europol announcement is a display of bundles of €200 banknotes with the words ‘Prop’ and ‘copy’ over the watermark area on the front and back of the banknote, as shown in the image below.