A Special Task Force (STF) team of the Assam Police arrested three alleged suppliers of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) in Krishnai, Assam's Goalpara district, on Tuesday. The team seized 29 bundles of fake currency notes from the suspects.
In a press note, the Assam police stated that based on a tip about a potential fake currency deal in Krishnai, a team of STF from Guwahati conducted an operation. They intercepted a car in Krishnai town and apprehended the three individuals. During the vehicle search, the STF team recovered 29 bundles of Rs 500 denomination notes, totalling to a face value of Rs 14.5 lakh. The accused have been identified as Md Anowar Hussain (52), Md Rafique Ahmed (47), and Md Krowel Marak (35), all residents of Krishnai.
The STF confiscated the counterfeit currency notes, the vehicle, and four mobile phones. Subsequently, they handed over the accused and the seized items to the Krishnai police for further legal action. A case has been registered at the Krishnai police station in connection with this incident. Later, the accused were produced before a court.
Smuggling of fake currency notes is prevalent not only in Assam but is fast becoming a growing menace across the country. According to a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) report, different law enforcement agencies seized fake currency notes worth over Rs 25.39 crore in face value from various parts of the country in 2019. This was followed by seizures of notes of face value of nearly Rs 92.18 crore in 2020 and over Rs 20.39 crore in 2021.
The MHA report indicates that the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) serves as the nodal agency responsible for compiling data on fake currency notes.
In order to combat the problem of fake currency, both central and state intelligence and security agencies closely monitor individuals involved in the circulation and smuggling of counterfeit currency. They take action against any reported violations of the law, as stated in the MHA report.