Brussels, 24/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - Europol has provided the Austrian and Croatian authorities analytical support in one of the largest counterfeiting investigations ever carried out, resulting in the arrest of three suspects in Zagreb as well as the seizure of 2,400 wads of counterfeit 500 euro banknotes, with a face value of €1.2 million. The investigation was opened several weeks ago in Austria, with the support of the Croatian Republic, as the members of a Serbian criminal group sought to put the forged notes into circulation. “Europol aims to further assist the EU Member States in fighting the euro counterfeiting phenomenon. Cooperation among the Member States themselves and between the Member States and Europol ensures an effective and systematic strengthening of the system for euro protection inside and outside the European Union territory”, Europol Director Max-Peter Ratzel stressed in a press release.