Guangdong police bust biggest fake banknote operation since 1949

[Batu69]

Guangdong police recently raided two sites producing counterfeit banknotes with a face value of 210 million yuan ($33 million), putting an end to the biggest fake banknote operation since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Police announced at a press conference in Huizhou on Thursday that a total of 29 suspects, including the gang leaders, have been arrested and four printing machines, materials and other related equipment were seized during the raids at two counterfeiting sites in Huizhou.

The gang had five forgers who previously worked at printing factories in their hometown of Sichuang and Chongqing. They were paid handsome salaries, with 500,000 yuan given as an advance and a further 400,000 yuan offered on completion of the work

They had been aiming to finish their product before the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival (which falls on 27 September), and to this end had two production lines up and running at the same time.

The plan had been to sell the fake banknotes for 10 yuan per piece, earning them a profit of around 20 million yuan.

Yangcheng Evening News reports that after the landlord of the production site accidentally discovered their secret, the biggest shareholder offered him 200,000 yuan as hush money. The landlord instead asked to become a partner and was detained along with the rest of the gang.

It's reported that the ring initially planned on setting their den in Zhuhai city, but they eventually changed their mind after consulting a Fengshui expert. Evidently good Fengshui cannot ward off the authorities.

Gao Weidong, deputy director of Huizhou Public Security Bureau, said more than 400 police officers took part in the special operation and that one officer was injured during the raid.

Source