A total of 2.614 counterfeit euro banknotes were detected in Montenegro over the past five years, though their number declined last year, which the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) attributed to the implementation of regulations aligned with European standards for euro protection, the CdM portal has learned.
The €50, €100 and €20 denominations are the most frequently counterfeited, along with €2 coins.
From 2022 to 2024, the number of counterfeit cases increased, while in 2025 a decline was recorded compared with 2024.
According to the Central Bank, the number of counterfeit banknotes increased by 17.11% in 2022 compared with 2021, by 70.13% in 2023 compared with 2022, and by 61.83% in 2024 compared with 2023.
However, in 2025 a decrease of 20.87% was recorded compared to the previous year.
“We note that the increase in counterfeit banknotes in 2022 and 2023 was the result of a higher volume of cash transactions following the stagnation during the years marked by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Effective prevention and detection of counterfeits rely, they explained, on a thorough understanding of genuine banknotes and the security features embedded in them.
