Action of Kosovo and North Macedonia against money counterfeiting, a Macedonian citizen is arrested

A citizen of North Macedonia was arrested on Sunday in Kosovo, suspected of the production and distribution of counterfeit two-euro metal money, while in North Macedonia three locations were checked where machines for the production of two-euro counterfeit metal money were seized. 

In a joint communiqué of the authorities of the Republic of Kosovo and those of North Macedonia, it was said that the suspect was ordered to be detained for 48 hours, while the operation was supported by Europol and Eurojust/WB Crim Just Project.

The Special Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kosovo (PSRK), together with the Kosovo Police, the Directorate for the Investigation of Economic Crimes and Corruption (PK/DHKEK), during the years 2023-2024 had taken several actions to prevent the introduction of counterfeit money, namely of money in the euro currency, as several cases of the circulation of counterfeit money had been encountered, which had disrupted the money market and damaged the public interest.

"On August 4, 2024, a citizen of North Macedonia was arrested in Kosovo, suspected of producing and distributing counterfeit money with metal denominations of 2 (two) Euros, while checks were carried out in three locations in North Macedonia. During the inspection, machines for the production of counterfeit money with a metal cut of 2 (two) Euros, money templates and other materials for the production of counterfeit coins, including all the raw materials for their production, were seized. According to the decision of the prosecutor of the case from the Special Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Kosovo, the Macedonian citizen has been temporarily detained for 48 hours and a request will be submitted to the court within the legal term to determine the measure to ensure his presence in the procedure", it was said. in the joint statement.