Babil police arrest two suspects and seize $50,000 in counterfeit dollars

BABIL — Police dismantled a counterfeiting network in Hilla and arrested two suspects accused of attempting to distribute fake Iraqi and U.S. currency, seizing $50,000 in counterfeit dollars and 25 million dinars in fake banknotes, authorities said Tuesday.

The counterfeit dollars were all in $100 denominations, while the fake Iraqi notes were in 25,000-dinar bills. Officers also seized a Colombian-made handgun with a magazine and seven rounds of ammunition.

The operation followed intelligence reports indicating the existence of a network trafficking counterfeit currency in central Babil. A specialized security team supervised by the Organized Crime Directorate and supported by intelligence and counterterrorism units carried out surveillance before arresting the two suspects while they allegedly attempted to circulate the money.

The arrest follows similar cases in recent months. In April, the Anti-Organized Crime Directorate in Dhi Qar seized more than $50,000 in fake cash. In December 2025, the National Security Service dismantled a forgery network in Basra and arrested three suspects including a foreign national, and separately arrested a man in Kirkuk carrying $10,000 in fake $100 bills who “admitted clearly to bringing them from a neighboring country.”

Counterfeit currency cases have declined in recent years, with the Interior Ministry saying in September 2025 that such crimes had dropped by 85 to 90 percent, crediting tighter judicial follow-up, expanded intelligence work and wider use of electronic payments.