State security forces in Tijuana arrested a man and a woman on June 4 after finding counterfeit Mexican and U.S. currency, along with a full set of printing equipment, inside their vehicle on Calle Durango in the Granjas Familiares División del Norte neighborhood.
Officers stopped the pair in a gray Ford Fiesta and discovered fake 50, 100, and 200-peso notes as well as counterfeit $1 and $2 U.S. bills. The vehicle also contained silkscreen printing gear, acetate sheets, and a laptop that authorities say the suspects used to produce the fraudulent currency.
Suspects Linked to Organized Crime Network
The two suspects were identified as César, 41, originally from Guanajuato, and Jazmín, 32, a Tijuana resident. Police also found 700 grams of marijuana and 13 packets of electronic cigarettes in the car.
Authorities say both individuals are connected to a criminal organization involved in migrant trafficking, drug sales, clandestine casino operations, and currency counterfeiting. The case was transferred to the FGR (Fiscalía General de la República, Mexico’s federal attorney general’s office), which will build a criminal case. The referral to federal jurisdiction indicates prosecutors view this as part of a broader organized crime operation rather than an isolated counterfeiting scheme.
Low Denominations Raise Concerns for Cash Transactions
The fake bills targeted small denominations in both currencies. Counterfeit 50-peso notes are worth roughly $2.50 USD, and the fake 200-peso bills are worth about $10 USD. Combined with the $1 and $2 U.S. bills, these are exactly the denominations most likely to pass unnoticed during quick cash transactions at markets, taco stands, or in taxi change.
Mexican peso notes carry several security features that can help spot fakes. Genuine bills include watermarks visible when held up to light, color-shifting ink, and raised printing that can be felt by touch. The 200-peso note, redesigned in recent years, features a holographic stripe on the front. For U.S. currency, $1 and $2 bills lack many of the advanced security features found on larger denominations, making them easier targets for counterfeiters.
The Granjas Familiares División del Norte neighborhood where the arrest took place sits in the eastern part of Tijuana, away from the main tourist corridor near the border crossing. The presence of silkscreen equipment and a laptop with production files points to an active counterfeiting operation rather than simple possession.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte.