Peru the world leader in fake US notes

Peru has become known over the past several years as the counterfeiting capital of the world. The U.S. Secret Service and Peruvian police on Nov. 15 made the largest seizure of counterfeit currency in Secret Service history ... $30 million in counterfeit notes. Oper­ation Sunset was the cul­mination of a global investigation involving six Peruvian-based criminal organizations. 54 pre-dawn search and arrest warrants were executed in Lima. More than 1,500 Peruvian National Police officers were involved in the operation, and 48 people were arrested in all. Six counterfeit plants were suppressed, eight counterfeit manufacturing presses seized, and over 1,600 printing plates and negatives of varying denominations were found.

From 2009 to 2015 Peruvian police seized over $76 million of fake American currency in addition to an undisclosed amount of euros and soles. The current situation led the Secret Service to move its Latin American headquarters to Peru from Colombia, which used to be the leader.

$2,000 worth of the best $100 counterfeits on the market can be had for $180 in real money. The forger is paid 35 cents for each finished note.