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The Hunt for the Counterfeiter Trying to Make the Perfect Bill
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- On October 14, 2023, Colombian law enforcement, supported by military forces, raided a counterfeit U.S. currency operation near Caldono, a conflict zone controlled by rival armed groups including the National Liberation Army and Clan del Golfo.
- The raid uncovered $1.6 million in counterfeit $50 bills printed on high-quality paper, along with printing plates, an inkjet printer, a paper cutter, and other equipment used in the forgery.
- Colombia is a major source of sophisticated counterfeit U.S. currency, which circulates widely in Latin American countries using the dollar as legal tender, such as Ecuador, El Salvador, and Panama, causing financial losses when forgeries are detected.
- Counterfeiting in Colombia had declined in the early 2010s due to joint efforts by Colombian authorities and the U.S. Secret Service but has resurged recently due to technological advances, with proceeds often funding other criminal enterprises like drug trafficking and terrorism.
