Mexicali, Baja California — Police in Baja California have arrested two people and seized hundreds of thousands in counterfeit cash. The arrests and seizures were made during a private home property search Friday in the city of Mexicali.
The State Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) reported seizing more than $286,000 USD and 885,000 pesos in cash, both of which were found to be fake.
“The Attorney General’s Office (FGR), through its Federal Prosecutor’s Office in the State of Baja California, seized 885,250 counterfeit pesos and $286,450 counterfeit USD at a home in Mexicali,” they reported.
According to their investigation, “Municipal Police officers arrested two people trying to make a deposit with counterfeit cash at a convenience store in the Prohogar neighborhood.
“Upon their arrest, they were found with six 500 Mexican peso bills (torn), 33,100 counterfeit pesos and $12,530 counterfeit dollars as well as 154,336 legitimate Mexican pesos,” the FGR reported.
After the attempted deposit of counterfeit cash, an investigation was launched. A judge issued a search warrant that was executed by the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) and elements of the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC).
Police located the counterfeit money as well as a bill counting machine, a multifunctional printing machines and a scanner. They also seized the home. Two people were arrested.
It is the second time in as many months that authorities have reported counterfeit currencies around the country. In October, Mexican federal officials reported charging members of what turned out to be a currency counterfeiting network in Mexico City.
Authorities in Quintana Roo have not reported any of that counterfeit money making its way into the state.
