Undercover police arrested three men after discovering a counterfeit money operation linked to a Lyttelton shopping centre in Pretoria on Tuesday, 01 July 2025.
Officers noticed a man loitering near ATMs and stopped him for a search.
The officers uncovered fake banknotes hidden in the man’s bag, mixed with blank sheets of paper.
The discovery raised red flags and prompted further investigation.
Search Leads Police to Counterfeit Printing House
Acting on leads from the arrest, police raided a nearby house suspected to be the operation’s base.
Inside, they seized more counterfeit South African rand and US dollar notes, as well as a printing machine used to produce the fake money.
Court Appearance and Ongoing Investigation
Police arrested two more men at the house during the raid, bringing the total number of suspects to three.
The three suspects will soon appear in court on charges of possessing and producing counterfeit currency.
Police have confirmed that further charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
How can communities help identify and report counterfeit money operations before they spread?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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