DRI seizes fake Indian currency notes of over R1.5 cr from 2 Turkish nationals

In one of the biggest seizures, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials today seized Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) of equivalent face value of over Rs 1.5 crore from two Turkish nationals.

In one of the biggest seizures, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence officials today seized Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) of equivalent face value of over Rs 1.5 crore from two Turkish nationals.

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Acting on a tip off that a huge cache of FICN is arriving in the capital from Bangladesh, which has developed as a major hub for supplying fake Indian currency, a special team of DRI officials zeroed in on a foreign-registered luxury Mercedes Benz Bus on June 3, along with the two foreigners.

After over two days of intensive search of the bus, the DRI officers were able to locate the FICN of R1.54 crore concealed in a cavity in the bus, DRI sources said.

The fake Indian currency was in denomination of Rs 500.

The Indian recipient, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, of the smuggled FICN was also apprehended at the time of interception of the bus, they said. Preliminary investigations revealed that the two foreign nationals had travelled by bus from Turkey to India via Iran and Pakistan.

Sources said the trio had made their first trip to India from Pakistan in April. After that, they travelled to Bangladesh and were on their way back when they were arrested by DRI officials in a special operation code named ‘Brass-tacks’.