Ahead of the festive season, a counterfeit currency smuggling racket has resurfaced in Malda district. Acting on a tip-off, the Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police seized fake notes with face value of ₹21 lakh and arrested two alleged smugglers early on Wednesday from the Vaishnavnagar police station area.
According to STF officials, the operation was carried out near the PTS intersection on National Highway 12. "Two youths, roaming suspiciously with bags, were stopped for questioning. When their answers failed to satisfy the officers, their bags were searched, leading to the recovery of counterfeit notes in ₹500 denomination,” said an STF official.
The arrested youths were identified as Hazrat Belal alias Masud (24) of Vaishnavnagar and Tariqul Islam (25) of Kaliachak. During preliminary interrogation, both confessed that the bundles of fake notes had been brought in from Bangladesh.
“This is the first time such a large recovery of counterfeit currency has been made in a single operation after demonetisation in 2016,” claimed the district intelligence wing.
The arrested duo and the seized consignment have been handed over to Vaishnavnagar police station, where a case has been registered. Police are now investigating the wider network, including possible routes of circulation and other members of the racket.
Confirming the incident, Malda Superintendent of Police Pradeep Kumar Yadav said, “The STF recovered a huge quantity of fake notes. Two smugglers have been arrested, and a detailed investigation has begun.”
Notably, in early August, police had arrested two women from the same area with counterfeit notes in ₹200 and ₹500 denominations. At that time, investigators suggested the fake currency was being smuggled in from Pakistan.
The latest recovery points to the reemergence of organised counterfeit rackets in Malda, a district long considered a hotspot for cross-border fake currency smuggling.
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