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Fake £20 notes gang sent to jail | Fake £20 notes gang sent to jail |
(20 minutes later) | |
Six men have been jailed for their part in a counterfeiting fraud that could have destabilised the British economy. | Six men have been jailed for their part in a counterfeiting fraud that could have destabilised the British economy. |
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Bracadale handed down sentences totalling more than 22 years. | At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Bracadale handed down sentences totalling more than 22 years. |
Ringleader Thomas McAnea, 57, from Yoker, in Glasgow, admitted delivering, selling or disposing of fake notes. | Ringleader Thomas McAnea, 57, from Yoker, in Glasgow, admitted delivering, selling or disposing of fake notes. |
In sentencing the gang, Lord Bracadale said: "It is essential that people can ...be confident that banknotes they receive and use are genuine." | In sentencing the gang, Lord Bracadale said: "It is essential that people can ...be confident that banknotes they receive and use are genuine." |
McAnea, whose nickname is Hologram Tam, was jailed for six years and four months. | |
His deputy John McGregor, 49, from Lambshill, in Glasgow, was jailed for four years. | |
They were caught in a police operation, called Fender, in January. | |
When police entered Print Link Ltd, on St George's Road in the city, they found an Aladdin's cave of counterfeit cash. | When police entered Print Link Ltd, on St George's Road in the city, they found an Aladdin's cave of counterfeit cash. |
McGregor was printing about half a million fake Bank of Scotland £20 notes and he later admitted making the notes. | McGregor was printing about half a million fake Bank of Scotland £20 notes and he later admitted making the notes. |
Highly sophisticated | Highly sophisticated |
Other raids across the city resulted in the recovery of thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit euros. | Other raids across the city resulted in the recovery of thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit euros. |
The gang had the capability to make £1m worth of forged notes every two to three hours. Graeme Pearson, of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, said: "The business, now running as a legitimate enterprise, is based in the west end of Glasgow. | The gang had the capability to make £1m worth of forged notes every two to three hours. Graeme Pearson, of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, said: "The business, now running as a legitimate enterprise, is based in the west end of Glasgow. |
"Its stock-in-trade was take-away menus for restaurants but behind the façade was a forgery team in demand and deemed the best of its kind in the UK. | "Its stock-in-trade was take-away menus for restaurants but behind the façade was a forgery team in demand and deemed the best of its kind in the UK. |
A police picture of the printing press at Print Link LtdEnlarge Image | A police picture of the printing press at Print Link LtdEnlarge Image |
"Police had begun undercover surveillance on the gang after suspicion arose in England that a multi-million pound operation was being run from Glasgow. | "Police had begun undercover surveillance on the gang after suspicion arose in England that a multi-million pound operation was being run from Glasgow. |
"The notes were destined for Europe but there are suspicions he was paid by organised crime lords all over the UK. | "The notes were destined for Europe but there are suspicions he was paid by organised crime lords all over the UK. |
"It's the first time Scotland had seen such a level of sophistication." | "It's the first time Scotland had seen such a level of sophistication." |
The others jailed were Joseph McKnight, 56, Robert Fulton , 62, Rodney Cadogan, 39, and Steven Todd, 23. | The others jailed were Joseph McKnight, 56, Robert Fulton , 62, Rodney Cadogan, 39, and Steven Todd, 23. |
McKnight and Fulton, both from Glasgow, were convicted of helping to distribute counterfeit money. | McKnight and Fulton, both from Glasgow, were convicted of helping to distribute counterfeit money. |
Cadogan, from London, was caught with more than 100,000 euros. | Cadogan, from London, was caught with more than 100,000 euros. |
Todd, from Possilpark, in Glasgow, admitted delivering, selling or disposing of forged notes. | Todd, from Possilpark, in Glasgow, admitted delivering, selling or disposing of forged notes. |
It's not the first time Thomas McAnea has fallen foul of the law. | It's not the first time Thomas McAnea has fallen foul of the law. |
In 1998 he was jailed for 10 years - convicted for his part in a plot to flood Europe with fake banknotes. | In 1998 he was jailed for 10 years - convicted for his part in a plot to flood Europe with fake banknotes. |
Within seven months he was free - released by the Court of Appeal on a technicality. Ironically it was a printing mistake on the arrest warrant. | Within seven months he was free - released by the Court of Appeal on a technicality. Ironically it was a printing mistake on the arrest warrant. |