BSS-30 Money counterfeit gangs active targeting national polls

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ZCZC

BSS-30

FAKE-CURRENCY-ELECTION

Money counterfeit gangs active targeting national polls

DHAKA, Sept 30, 2018 (BSS) – The fake currency producing gangs have become
active in the capital and elsewhere across the country ahead of the upcoming
general election.

“Money counterfeit gangs are now active in producing fake currency ahead of
the national elections for cashing the large scale cash transaction to be
used in election purpose,” Deputy Commissioner (North Division) Mashiur
Rahman of the Detective Branch of police told BSS today.

“The gangs choose big occasions such as festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-
Azha and elections for producing fake currency as a huge amount of money are
usually transacted during the periods,” he also said.

Referring to a production of counterfeit money of Taka 1.8 crore in a month
by a gang belonging to Abul Hossain alias Emon, the DB official said, “The
gang had a plan to circulate around Tk 8 crore in counterfeit notes ahead of
the upcoming national elections.”

Emon, who got involved in producing and circulating fake notes since 2013,
was a top fake note producer, he said adding that the gang is also active in
Mymensingh, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Barishal. It used to circulate the notes
mainly in Dhaka, Chattogram, Gazipur and Narsingdi.

DB personnel on Friday arrested the ringleader Emon and his five
accomplices along with fake currency of Taka 51 lakh and materials and
equipment of producing those from Turag, on the outskirts of the capital.

The seized materials could have been used to produce Tk 7 crore in
counterfeit bank notes, the official said.

According to him, it cost the gang Tk 10,000 to make Tk 1 lakh in fake
notes. They used to sell Tk 1 lakh in fake money to wholesalers for Tk 15,000
and to retailers for Tk 40,000.

A case was lodged to this end with the respective police station.

“Though we have lodged scores of cases against the arrested people with
different police stations, they usually get bail from the court after a
period as the sections of law under which the cases were lodged are bail able
and later they get involved again in the same business,” he added.

Police Headquarters has earlier asked all the concerned authorities to take
necessary measures including stepping up intelligence surveillance across the
country to prevent production and circulation of fake currencies.

As per directives of the police headquarters, intelligence vigilance
coinciding with crackdowns has been strengthened across the country to stop
circulation of fake currency particularly in the capital city. The law
enforcers are now collecting information relating to fake currency making
syndicates.

Law enforcers have been asked to conduct special drives after identifying
the places where the counterfeit bank notes are being produced and used.

Over 30 syndicates have been involved in producing different fake
currencies, especially US dollars, Euro, Pound, Saudi Riyal and Taka, a
police official said.

Criminals usually choose the low grade areas like slums located at
different parts of Dhaka, Narayanganj, Savar, Tongi, Gazipur, Munsiganj and
Keraniganj for running the illegal businesses, police sources said.

BSS/SPL-AHJ/ARS/1822 hrs