National Threat Assessment 2008. Organised Crime - Politie

members tried to buy caravans and camper vans abroad using counterfeit euros
with the intention of selling the vehicles again in the Netherlands. They also
tried to buy cannabis with counterfeit euro notes. Most of the members of this
criminal organisation came from the caravan camp community. Another group
consisting of Bulgarians residing in the Netherlands used various working
methods to launder counterfeit money. For example, they used deposit machines
to pay counterfeit 500 euro notes into an account, which was then emptied
again within 24 hours. They also used counterfeit money to buy cars, which
were then sold in ordinary trading. Finally, goods are also bought quite
frequently online using counterfeit euro notes.
2.10.5 Consequences for Dutch society
The total print value of the counterfeit euro notes found in 2007 was more than
3 million euros. This amount can be considered to constitute the direct damage
to Dutch society, whereby small and medium-sized enterprises in particular were
the victims. The indirect damage is unknown. Examples of indirect damage
include the purchasing of equipment by small and medium-sized enterprises to
detect counterfeit money, insurance premiums, and the costs of training staff to
recognise counterfeit money and to use the detection equipment. Costs are also
incurred when the police and the judicial authorities investigate and prosecute
counterfeiters, and costs are incurred to comply with international agreements.
Finally, large numbers of counterfeit notes may harm the trust of the public in
the financial system or the currency.
2.10.6 Crime-related factors and expectations
No further research was conducted into factors affecting the production and
distribution of counterfeit money (see Chapter 1). It can be stated, however,
that the two aforementioned Italian printing establishments that were closed
down may have an after-effect, because the professional offset printing presses
found there can be used to print large numbers of counterfeit euro notes
in a short space of time. It is therefore quite possible that a large number of
counterfeit euro notes produced by these presses will be put into circulation
in the coming period.
2.10.7 Conclusion
Large numbers of counterfeit euro notes coming into circulation can
damage trust in the financial system, which could have far‐reaching economic
consequences for Europe. It is therefore important to continue to follow
chapter 2 – Illegal markets
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