FROM:
http://www.rochdaleobserver.co.uk/news/s/1136890_fake_coin_man_charged

'Fake coin' man charged

Katie Storey
September 16, 2009

A 45-year-old Rochdale man has been arrested and
charged by police on suspicion of producing
counterfeit coins from a home-made production
plant in Kingsway.

Yasin Patel was arrested at Birch Service station
on the M62 by police who suspected that he was a
member of a counterfeit cash gang responsible for
producing more than £1M of fake coins and notes.

Lancashire police made the arrest last Thursday at
around 6pm after recovering £6,000 of counterfeit
coins.

Searches were launched of houses in Kingsway,
Blackburn and Accrington suspected to be involved
in the production of the coins.

Police found melted metal and hi-tech
electro-plating equipment at a house, and more
fake coins worth more than £15,000.

Mr Patel is alleged to have made £1 and £2 coins.

The investigation was launched after Bank of
England experts noted a sudden increase in £1 and
£2 coins, as well as £20 and 50 euro notes.

The arrest follows a nationally coordinated
investigation involving South Yorkshire Police,
Lancashire Constabulary, Humberside, Norfolk, West
Yorkshire Police and SOCA into the wholesale
production and national supply of counterfeit
currency.

Four other people from Yorkshire, Humberside and
Norfolk have also been arrested following the
year-long investigation.

Police have so far recovered £100,000 in fake
money, but it is claimed the total in the fake
cash trade could be more than £1M.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said they had
found a large quantity of coins that were in
the middle of being produced.

Mr Patel was remanded in custody and will
appear before Sheffield Crown Court on Friday.
Continuing investigations are being led by
South Yorkshire Police


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