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🇦🇷 Argentina /Crime & Justice

Fake dollars and pesos: $20,000 bills lead police to counterfeit ring

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Argentine and US dollars were being counterfeited by a criminal organization.
  • The investigation began after a woman attempted to purchase items with fake 20,000 peso bills.
  • Six suspects were arrested after a 13-month investigation involving surveillance and phone taps.

Federal Police detectives have dismantled a sophisticated criminal ring that was circulating counterfeit Argentine pesos and US dollars, dealing a significant blow to illicit financial operations within the country. The investigation, spanning over a year, culminated in the arrest of six individuals, highlighting the persistent efforts of law enforcement to combat financial crime.

We were happy with the product we made. 'The papers pass like crazy,' a accomplice told R. S., the alleged organizer, distributor, and driver of the gang.

· AccompliceIntercepted phone conversation revealing the gang's satisfaction with their counterfeit product.

The operation, initiated by a tip-off regarding a woman's attempt to use fake 20,000 peso notes, rapidly escalated as authorities uncovered a well-organized network. Through extensive surveillance, wiretaps, and on-the-ground intelligence, investigators identified the alleged mastermind, R. S., who not only organized the distribution of counterfeit currency but also acted as the group's driver. This meticulous police work, overseen by Federal Judge Emiliano Canicoba, demonstrates the capacity of Argentine law enforcement to tackle complex criminal enterprises.

After 13 months of investigative work, undercover surveillance, telephone interceptions, information analysis, and field operations, it was determined that the episode was not an isolated incident, but that behind that maneuver operated a criminal organization dedicated to putting apocryphal national and foreign currency into circulation in businesses in the city of Buenos Aires, the north of the Buenos Aires suburbs, and the interior of the province of Buenos Aires.

· PFA sourcesExplaining the scope and duration of the investigation.

What makes this case particularly noteworthy is the organization's use of coded language to mask their illegal activities, referring to the distribution of fake money as 'going to work' or 'going for a walk.' This linguistic subterfuge, while indicative of a calculated criminal mindset, ultimately failed to evade the keen eyes and ears of the PFA. The arrests underscore the ongoing battle against financial fraud and the importance of vigilant policing in safeguarding the integrity of the national and foreign currencies circulating within Argentina.

We could observe a sophisticated and organized structure, where the suspects, according to telephone eavesdropping, spoke with metaphorical expressions to refer to illicit activities. They spoke of 'going to work,' 'let's have breakfast,' 'let's have lunch or a snack,' or 'let's go for a walk,' thus coordinating the criminal maneuvers on different days and times, even during weekends and holidays.

· PFADescribing the gang's coded communication methods.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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