The U.S. Secret Service is working with police in the former Soviet republic of Georgia to investigate an international counterfeiting operation that produces fake $100 bills that have been seized in the United States and Israel, the Washington Post is quoted by Reuters news agency.

The counterfeiting operation, based on the separatist enclave of South Ossetia, has produced more than $20 million in fake bills that have been transported to the United States and Israel, according to investigators cited by the newspaper.

The counterfeit notes have been passed at numerous businesses in Baltimore, Maryland; New York City; Buffalo, New York; and Newark, New Jersey, the newspaper said. It said the notes have also surfaced in Georgia and neighboring Russia.

The Washington Post said the number of notes produced in the region and passed in the United States has increased dramatically in recent years.

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