In Benidorm, officers from the National Police moved to stop a 35-year-old Polish national suspected of involvement in a counterfeit currency incident after a report from the Provincial Police Department. A total of 11,000 euros was concealed in a vest, and the incident suggested an intent to exploit the holiday period for financial gain. The sequence of events pointed to a pattern of high-volume transactions around Christmas, with a focus on placing forged notes in local shops across the area.
The suspect reappeared moments later at a police checkpoint where officers halted a vehicle. After identifying the driver, authorities searched the car and uncovered an envelope containing 22,500 euros in banknotes tucked into the back-seat area of the vehicle, alone or with the detained individual nearby.
Upon examination, the banknotes displayed several security irregularities. When questioned about the source of the funds, the person offered no clear explanation and failed to provide information regarding the money’s origin, raising suspicions of illegitimacy.
Given the possibility that the notes could be illegal tender, authorities intercepted the money and detained the individual on charges related to counterfeiting. Following the police proceedings, the detainee was transferred to the Benidorm Guard Court, where an injunction was issued and release was denied.
Safe Trading Plan
The detention fell within a specialized operation conducted by the National Police known as the Safe Trading Plan. This initiative is carried out at various police stations in the Alicante region during the Christmas season, with heightened police presence in major commercial districts to protect consumers and deter criminal activity in retail environments.