Istanbul police seize record $271 million in counterfeit bills
| DHA Photo


Police seized $271 million of counterfeit bills — an all-time record high — at an illegal printing press in the Esenyurt district on the European side of Istanbul, a statement said Monday.

The Directorate of Combating Financial Crimes launched an operation Friday to investigate the printing press and initially did not find anything suspicious about the business. However, a detailed search revealed a secret door behind an electrical panel.

About $271,150,000 in counterfeit U.S. dollars were stashed in the secret chamber.

Police arrested five suspects, including a former commissioner expelled over links to Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), as part of the investigation into the incident. Authorities are investigating whether any of the money was transferred to FETÖ.