The Burjassot Local Police have apprehended two individuals and confiscated a substantial quantity of counterfeit banknotes, as well as a variety of chemicals and instruments that are purportedly used to perpetrate the “inked banknote scam,” a type of fraud that is prevalent in numerous countries and is classified as a financial crime.

The operation was conducted as part of a normal traffic and road safety inspection on Avenida Vicent Andrés Estellés at 11:30 p.m. on May 1st. A high-end vehicle that responded evasively to the checkpoint was intercepted by officers. The occupants, who were visibly agitated, provided incoherent responses regarding the vehicle’s origin after it was detained and identified. This prompted a preventive search of the vehicle.

During the inspection, €40,500 in tinted counterfeit banknotes, €20,140 in untinted simulated banknotes, and pre-cut paper in the sizes of euro banknotes of various legal tender values were discovered. Additionally, €7,790 in legal tender cash, some of which was concealed within the vehicle, a Revolut bank card and a passport in the name of third parties, and several SIM cards and foreign currency notes were discovered.

The detainees are CCM, 38, and RGCE, 43, both of Cameroonian descent. They were apprehended and subsequently detained, along with all of the confiscated property, on suspicion of currency counterfeiting and attempted fraud. The Godella Local Police were dispatched to the scene as operational support, and the operation was conducted with their assistance.

The Local Police Headquarters and the City Council are promoting the “Burjassot Segura” Plan, which includes this action. The objective of this initiative is to enhance public and road safety by means of strategic controls, coordinated actions, and preventive surveillance.

Since its implementation, this plan has resulted in numerous arrests for property crimes, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, and other criminal offences, thereby establishing a secure urban environment for the municipality’s residents.

What is the “tinted banknote scam”?

This type of fraud, also referred to as a “chemical scam,” involves deceiving victims into believing that it is feasible to convert tinted black or white paper into legal tender through the use of specific chemicals.

In order to establish credibility, fraudsters fabricate a fraudulent demonstration. They insert a genuine banknote that was previously concealed between treated papers and, by employing reactive liquids, feign that it has been “washed” and transformed into a valid banknote. After the victim is persuaded, the scammers demand substantial quantities of money to acquire additional “treated paper” and reagents, which are, in reality, of no value.

This form of fraud is typically associated with roving networks that operate in various territories and is classified as a crime of fraud.

As part of Operation “Entrada25,” the Alicante Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal organisation that was operating in the Vega Baja region and was responsible for burglaries on agricultural estates. Part of the stolen goods have been recovered and returned to their legitimate owners, but the total value of the stolen goods is estimated to exceed 40,000 euros. One individual has been apprehended, and two others are currently being investigated as a consequence of the investigation.

In late 2024, the Torrevieja Field Robbery Team initiated an investigation into the incident in response to numerous complaints. The perpetrators were observed by the investigators to be obtaining access to the facilities by forcing locks or doors, exploiting periods when no personnel were working, and stealing high-value products such as fertilisers, compost, and phytosanitary products.

The Torrevieja Field Robbery Team received assistance from the Seprona (National Police Service) in Guardamar del Segura, the Guardia Civil stations in Guardamar and Callosa de Segura, and the local police forces of Catral, Almoradí, Rafal, Cox, Granja de Rocamora, Algorfa, Benijófar, Formentera del Segura, Rojales, Benejúzar, Los Montesinos, and San Miguel de Salinas. The operation’s success was significantly influenced by the coordinated efforts of all divisions, as well as the investigation and analysis of evidence that was obtained. This led to the identification and location of the perpetrators and the discovery of some of the stolen material.

Additionally, the operation included numerous examinations of suspicious farms, warehouses, and vehicles, which were crucial in elucidating the events.

One of the suspects, a 35-year-old male, was apprehended as part of the established operations at the end of March. Subsequently, two additional males, aged 39 and 48, were identified and investigated. Five counts of burglary and an additional count of membership in a criminal organisation have been filed against each of the three individuals.

The Orihuela Court of Instruction issued an order for the detainee’s release, subject to the imposition of precautionary measures.

The Civil Guard remains committed to the prevention of this form of crime and underscores the significance of public collaboration in the fight against agricultural theft.

A 28-year-old Dutch fugitive who was hiding in Benidorm was identified by his evasive conduct. A man in the Marina municipality has been apprehended by National Police officers. The man was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant for Extradition (EAW) issued by the Dutch authorities.

The crime of illegally possessing a firearm in 2024 led to this individual’s nine-month imprisonment. In mid-April, the fugitive fled to Spain after failing to comply with the sentence. The requesting country issued a European Arrest Warrant, with four months remaining.

The fugitive was apprehended by officers from the Benidorm Citizen Security Brigade after they identified him as acting evasively in their presence and verified that he had a European arrest warrant issued.

In January 2024, the detainee was apprehended by the Dutch police while carrying a short firearm without a valid licence. As a result, he was sentenced to three years in pre-sentence prison for the actions he committed.