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Counterfeit gang arrested in Bulgaria after using photo of Sylvester Stallone for fake passport

  • Police seized large amounts of high-quality fake euro and dollar bills as well as fake Bulgarian ID cards and driving licences
  • Searches were conducted at 30 locations across Bulgaria in a joint operation with Europol and the US Secret Service

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A fake Bulgarian passport in the name of American actor Sylvester Stallone, which was found during a search in a house in the central city of Plovdiv, Bulgaria on Thursday. Photo: Bulgarian Prosecutor’s Office via AFP

Bulgarian authorities have arrested a counterfeit gang that promoted the quality of its illegal documents and banknotes by showing a fake Bulgarian passport bearing the picture of US actor Sylvester Stallone.

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Prosecutors on Friday charged four Bulgarians suspected of belonging to an organised crime ring with making and distributing the fake Bulgarian documents and counterfeit US dollar and euro bills in the Balkan country.

The four were arrested after printing presses and equipment for the production of counterfeit banknotes and documents were found following searches at 30 locations across Bulgaria in a joint operation with Europol and the US Secret Service.

During a search in a flat in the southern city of Plovdiv, police seized large amounts of high-quality fake euro and dollar bills as well as fake Bulgarian ID cards and driving licences.

“Officers have also seized a Bulgarian passport with the picture of a famous US actor, which was used as a sample to demonstrate to clients the high quality of their counterfeit production,” the prosecutors said in a statement.

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