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In this photo provided by Bulgaria's Interior Ministry on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, a policemen takes a photo of counterfeit money at a printing office in a university in Sofia. Bulgarian authorities say they have seized high-quality forged banknotes produced at a printing office in a university in the Bulgarian capital. In a joint operation with U.S. Secret Service, Bulgarian police detained two people and seized a printing machine and equipment for printing money, along with large amounts of counterfeit U.S. dollar and euro notes. (Bulgarian Interior Ministry via AP)

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In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 and provided by Bulgaria's Interior Ministry, a police officer holds items used to print counterfeit money at a printing office in a university, in Sofia. Bulgarian authorities say police seized high-quality forged banknotes produced at a printing office at a university in the capital. In a joint operation with the U.S. Secret Service, Bulgarian police detained two people and seized a printing machine and equipment for printing money, along with large amounts of counterfeit U.S. dollar and euro notes. (Bulgarian Interior Ministry via AP)

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In this photo provided by Bulgaria's Interior Ministry on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, the interior a printing office in a university, in Sofia. Bulgarian authorities say they have seized high-quality forged banknotes produced at a printing office in a university in the Bulgarian capital. In a joint operation with U.S. Secret Service, Bulgarian police detained two people and seized a printing machine and equipment for printing money, along with large amounts of counterfeit U.S. dollar and euro notes. (Bulgarian Interior Ministry via AP)

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In this photo provided by Bulgaria's Interior Ministry on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, items used to print counterfeit money at a printing office in a university, in Sofia. Bulgarian authorities say they have seized high-quality forged banknotes produced at a printing office in a university in the Bulgarian capital. In a joint operation with U.S. Secret Service, Bulgarian police detained two people and seized a printing machine and equipment for printing money, along with large amounts of counterfeit U.S. dollar and euro notes. (Bulgarian Interior Ministry via AP)

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In this photo provided by Bulgaria's Interior Ministry on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, counterfeit money at a printing office in a university, in Sofia. Bulgarian authorities say police seized high-quality forged banknotes produced at a printing office at a university in the capital. In a joint operation with the U.S. Secret Service, Bulgarian police detained two people and seized a printing machine and equipment for printing money, along with large amounts of counterfeit U.S. dollar and euro notes. (Bulgarian Interior Ministry via AP)

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In this photo provided by Bulgaria's Interior Ministry on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, counterfeit money at a printing office in a university in Sofia. Bulgarian authorities say they have seized high-quality forged banknotes produced at a printing office in a university in the Bulgarian capital. In a joint operation with U.S. Secret Service, Bulgarian police detained two people and seized a printing machine and equipment for printing money, along with large amounts of counterfeit U.S. dollar and euro notes. (AP Photo/Bulgarian Interior Ministry)

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In this photo provided by the Bulgarian Prosecutor's office on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 counterfeit money displayed on table at Bulgarian Prosecutor's office as officials stand near, in Sofia. Bulgarian authorities say they have seized high-quality forged banknotes produced at a printing office in a university in the Bulgarian capital. In a joint operation with U.S. Secret Service, Bulgarian police detained two people and seized a printing machine and equipment for printing money, along with large amounts of counterfeit U.S. dollar and euro notes. (AP Photo/ Bulgarian Prosecutor's office)

Bulgaria, US Secret Service in counterfeit money raid

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 10:17 PM ET Mar. 16, 2021

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Police seized high-quality forged banknotes produced at a printing office at a university in Bulgaria's capital, authorities said Tuesday.

In a joint operation with the U.S. Secret Service, Bulgarian police detained two people and seized a printing machine and equipment for printing money, along with large amounts of counterfeit U.S. dollar and euro notes.

“The value of the seized currency is impressive. The material evidence speaks of serious criminal activity,” Sofia police chief Georgi Hadzhiev said Tuesday.

The amount of counterfeit money seized is $4 million and 3.6 million euros, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Police believe that the two suspects are part of a larger criminal enterprise, dealing in the trafficking of counterfeit dollars to Ukraine, and of euros to Western Europe.