Illustration
Photo: Ata Awisat
Police bust fake bills factory
South Tel Aviv area flooded with counterfeit 50 shekel, 100 dollar bills; 'factory' busted Tuesday in deserted industrial area; officers confiscate NIS 1.5 million, USD 115,000 worth of counterfeit bills
Police officer Danny Levi is convinced that millions of counterfeit 50 shekel bills are being circulated in the Tel Aviv area, after police busted on Tuesday a factory used to print fake 50 shekel and 100 dollar bills.
Levi linked the arrest of an Israeli citizen in Turkey over suspicions of circulating forged 100 dollar bills to Tuesday's operation during which police seized NIS 1.5 million in fake 50 shekel bills and USD 115,000 in fake 100 dollar bills.
Shabi Shabtai, was arrested upon landing in Turkey two weeks ago after bying a TV set at a Ben Gurion Airport duty free shop using a counterfeit 100 dollar bill.
Turkish officials found in his possession more counterfeit bills.
An examination of the serial numbers on the counterfeit bills confiscated Tuesday showed they are in numerical order, further deepening suspicions that the counterfeiters are highly professional.
The Bank of Israel and the United States Treasury have been updated on the raid.
