In the Sumy region, the SBU exposed a group that organized the sale of counterfeit foreign currency. The offenders "sold" fake 100-dollar banknotes for 45% of the face value. Every month they sold up to USD 50,000.

According to preliminary data, the involved persons have established a scheme in different regions of Ukraine. The organizers were seven residents of Sumy region, most of them with a criminal past.

They sold fake banknotes through personal connections, including in exchange offices.

It has been established that counterfeits are not identified as counterfeits by banknote checking devices.

SBU operatives documented that the group had been operating for almost six months, and the monthly volume of sold fake notes was about USD 50,000.

Law enforcement detained one of the organizers of the illegal scheme under Art. 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine during the next sale of almost 35 thousand of counterfeit US dollars.

Also in the course of authorized searches at the place of residence of the defendants traumatic weapons without permits and 400 of ball rounds were seized.

Currently, the detainee has been served suspicion notice. The issue of serving suspicion notices to other members of the group is being resolved.

Investigative actions are underway to identify and block sources of counterfeit currency.

Measures to expose illegal activities were carried out by officers of the SBU Office in Sumy region together with investigators of the Sumy District Police Department of the Main Department of the National Police in Sumy region under the procedural guidance of the Sumy District Prosecutor's Office.