Six suspects to be tried in Latvia for making fake U.S. dollar banknotes

RIGA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- A group of six money counterfeiting suspects are going to stand trial in Latvia for making and putting into circulation a large amount of fake U.S. dollar banknotes, the prosecutor's office for organized crime informed Tuesday.

According to the prosecutor who has sent the money counterfeiting case to court for hearing, the six suspects, "driven by greed", organized a coordinated underground business to manufacture and store a large amount of fake 100-dollar banknotes with the aim to distribute them.

The money counterfeiters set up a printing shop in the Latvian capital city Riga, adjusting the premises for their illegal operation and purchasing and installing the necessary equipment.

Under the guise of a legal business, they made 3.5 million U.S. dollar worth of fake banknotes. Some of the counterfeit money was stored at the printing shop, while the rest was kept at the suspects' homes and another company's premises.

Police seized a total of 35,745 counterfeit 100-dollar banknotes from the organized group of counterfeiters.

Their case will be heard at Riga Vidzeme District Court. If found guilty, the suspects may face prison sentences of up to 18 years. Enditem