Increase in counterfeit money detected in Czechia

In the first nine months of this year, the Czech National Bank intercepted 1,473 counterfeit banknotes and coins. That is a 59 % decrease year-on-year, compared with the 3,608 counterfeits detected by the end of September last year. While the majority of counterfeits detected last year were Czech banknotes and coins, this year three-fifths of them are foreign currencies, according to a report on the central bank's website. Counterfeiters face up to eight years in prison and in the case of an organised group the penalty is up to ten years.