Police bust Waterkloof counterfeit money operation

Tshwane police flying squad members and partners arrested three men at a guesthouse in Waterkloof on Friday for printing counterfeit money.

The police had received intelligence about the operation and located the three in a guesthouse on Jonathan Street.

“We found three men at the guesthouse. Permission to search the room was requested and granted and we found and unlocked a big safe that was hidden,” said police spokesperson Sergeant Legodi.

“Inside the safe were black bags full of US currency and the suspects were detained and interviewed. They informed us there was another address where they manufactured the fake money. Voluntarily they took us to the address on 32nd Avenue in Villeria, where they pointed to us the money printing operation.”

Police located a machine the men used to manufacture fake money hidden in the back room. They were arrested and detained at Brooklyn Police station without incident or injury.

Police seized a money printing machine to the value of R45 000 and 82 bundles of fraudulent US currency that amounted to over $8 million (R150 million).

“Whilst busy with the suspects came an unknown person trying to bribe us not to detain the suspects. We then arrested and detained that unknown person for bribery as well,” said Legodi.

Three men were charged with possession and manufacturing of counterfeit money and one for bribery. They are expected to appear in court in due course.

Any residents with information related to this case are urged to contact their local authorities.

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