Police raid busts counterfeiting ring

BOGOTA, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- A multinational police operation targeting organized crime has resulted in the seizure of more than 11 million counterfeit euro bank notes in Colombia.

Officials from Europol, the European Union police agency, say a police raid of a printing shop in Bogota, Colombia, on Thursday resulted in the "largest ever seizure of counterfeit euro bank notes outside Europe," Europol reported.

The shop was run by a transnational criminal network printing denominations of 200 and 500 counterfeit euros that were expected to be distributed throughout Europe. Officials say more than 11 million euros, or more than $16 million, worth of the fake bills were seized.

The multinational police effort brought together intelligence from the Colombian National Police, authorities from Spain and investigators from Europol.

"The operation is an excellent example of close and trustful international cooperation between Colombia, Spain and Europol," Max-Peter Ratzel, Europol director, said in a statement.

"The use of Europol as a platform for the exchange of information has proven to be successful."