Turkish security forces have confiscated $1 billion worth of counterfeit money in Istanbul and arrested six individuals involved in the scheme.
The arrested individuals include one Ghanaian and three Swedish nationals, as stated by the governor’s office on Friday, according to Reuters.
The suspects were tracked by gendarmerie forces to a storage facility located in Istanbul’s Kagithane district.
It was at this location that a substantial quantity of counterfeit $100 bills intended to be distributed in African countries was seized, according to the governor’s office.
In addition to the raid on the storage space, searches were conducted at the suspects’ residences, resulting in the seizure of cash and jewelry.
The Swedish and Ghanaian consulates were also informed of the arrests and the ongoing investigation.
The governor’s office highlighted that this counterfeit money seizure represents the largest in Turkey’s history, underscoring the significance of the operation.