Two members of an international fake Indian currency notes (FICN) smuggling racket were arrested with counterfeit notes of the face value of Rs 300,000 and suspected to be routed through Pakistan, police said.
After surveillance of nearly four months, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police nabbed 34-year-old Neetu alias Radha and 23-year-old Salim Sheikh from Seemapuri on Sunday.
"During surveillance, it was revealed that FICN was being pumped into Malda (West Bengal) by Pakistan through the porous Indo-Bangla border. From Malda, it was being handed over to racketeers in various parts of the country including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav.
Besides the fake notes, three mobile handsets with SIM cards were also seized from the duo.
The recovered notes have most of the security features making it difficult to differentiate them from genuine notes.
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During interrogation, the accused revealed that all the new security features that the government introduces were quickly updated in fake currency notes.
"During interrogation, other than notes being pushed through Indo-Bangla border, Sheikh said the exchange of fake currency through Nepal border is also a channel of pumping FICN int India," said the officer.
"It is suspected that Pakistan based Iqbal Kana and his associates are engaged in sending FICN in India through Nepal and Bangladesh border for last many years. His name has cropped up time and again.
"A large portion of money derived from FICN goes into buying sophisticated weapons smuggled through the Bangladesh border. Investigation is also being conducted whether money raised from FICN is being diverted to promote terrorist activities in the country," added Yadav.
--IANS
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