such high quality that they could only be produced by a government agency such as the CIA. Other Other theories of the bills' origin have become increasingly popular; Iran remains a suspect to many, while others blame independent criminal gangs operating out of Russia or China. In 2000, the Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies, an Israel-based think tank, laid the blame on Syria: "The Bekaa Valley has become one of the main distribution sources, if not production points, of the 'supernote' – counterfeit U.S. currency so well done that it is impossible to detect." See also Counterfeit United States currency Operation Bernhard—a similar operation run by Nazi Germany during the Second World War with forged pound sterling notes as well as American dollars Operation Sugi—a similar operation run by Japanese scientists to counterfeit Chinese currency worth 4 billion yen during World War II Project Gutenberg - a fictional movie about Hong Kong counterfeiters References External links "U.S. accuses North Korea of conspiracy to counterfeit", San Francisco Chronicle, December 18, 2005. "What Are Supernotes?", Slate, August 23, 2005. "What is a superdollar?", BBC News, June 19, 2004. Superdollar &mdashl transcript of BBC TV show Panorama Counterfeit U.S. Currency Abroad: Issues and U.S. Deterrence Efforts, General Accounting Office publication, February 26, 1996. North Korea–United States relations Currencies of the United States Counterfeit money