Currency trafficker attempts to exchange 58 units of fake 500 euro notes in Tashkent

In Tashkent, a lawbreaker tried to exchange counterfeit banknotes of 500 euros, the press service of the Prosecutor General’s Office reported. 

Employees of the Mirabad district Department for Pre-Investigation Inspection together with the district police officers detained citizen A. Z., who tried to exchange 58 units of 500-euro notes (totaling 29,000 euros).

The notes provided by citizen A. Z. at the JSC “Asaka bank” of the Yunusabad branch turned out to be fake.

On this fact, a criminal case has been initiated under paragraph “a” of Part 3, Article 176 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Investigative actions are being conducted.

Since January 27 of this year, 17 of the 19 central banks of the eurozone countries have ceased issuing 500 euro notes. Germany and Austria plan to make a smooth transition and stop the release of the largest banknote on April 26, 2019.

The European Central Bank announced the withdrawal from circulation of 500-euro banknotes back in May 2016.

This decision was dictated by the fact that such a bill was often used to carry out illegal operations related to corruption and terrorism, allowing large amounts of money to be transported insensibly, for which it even received the nickname “bin Laden”.