DHAKA: Money smugglers are trying to use Bangladesh’s air and water routes for transit in smuggling counterfeit Indian currency, customs intelligence said, as some incidents have already been detected.
A team of the customs intelligence seized fake Indian rupees worth Tk 191 million during the last two years with same numbers coming from Pakistan and Dubai en route to India.
Taking a cue from the discoveries, the directorate of customs intelligence has formed a three-member committee to investigate the fake currency entry-related factors.
The customs seized some eight smuggled consignments of fake currencies worth Tk 191 million between December 16, 2013 and September 20, 2015.
They said some advanced, sophisticated technology has been used to make those currencies that can qualify the security check. In India, some of the seized currencies have passed nearly all of the 30 security check-points although those were all forged as the currency bundles contained same numbers.
Officials said the currencies seized in Bangladesh from eight consignments have been deposited with the Bangladesh Bank for a recheck.
For addressing the problem of currency underworld, the directorate of customs intelligence and investigation under the National Board of Revenue (NBR) recently sent a letter to the Bangladesh Bank governor with a request for taking necessary measures and giving BB opinion certifying those currencies as fake.
All of the eight consignments of privately minted money were “full of Indian fake rupees come from Pakistan or Dubai”, the letter reads.
Most of the consignments were unaccompanied baggage.
Customs intelligence said although it is strongly suspected that all of the currencies are forged, but the BB is the authority to confirm it.
Talking to the FE, Director-General of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate Moinul Khan said the customs intelligence intensified its vigilance to check entry of fake currency into Bangladesh.
“Smugglers are now trying sea route after they failed to get access to air routes,” he said.
In the last two years, the CI has found a large amount of Indian fake currency notes that entered Bangladesh from other countries, he added.
The customs intelligence seized six chalans in Dhaka airport while one in Chittagong airport.
On September 20, 2015, the customs sleuth seized Tk 27.17 million worth of Indian rupees at Chittagong seaport. For the first time, fake-currency smugglers used the sea route of Chittagong.
The racket imported a container stuffed with the fake currency falsely declared as ‘home appliances’.
Customs intelligence officials said their Indian counterpart also expressed deep concern over such shipment of fake currencies through Bangladesh that has the potential to destabilise their money market.
On June 6, 2015, Bangladesh and India signed a memorandum of understanding on Prevention of Smuggling and Circulation of Fake Currency Notes in a bid to thwart the smuggling of fake currencies between the countries.
According to Indian media reports, both the countries agreed to work in close coordination to curb the smuggling in counterfeit currency notes that may pose a threat to their respective national security.
