Fake currency in cattle smuggling

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 15 MARCH: Cattle smugglers across the Bangladesh border are paying their Indian counterparts fake India currency for every cattle purchased.

It is learnt that the Bangladeshi cattle smugglers these days are paying Rs 30,000 in Indian currency for every cow they purchase from the Indian rustlers. The money is, however, counterfeit.

“A smuggled cow general fetches Rs 10,000 from the Bangladeshi dealers, but these days the Indian smugglers are receiving Rs 30,000 in fake Indian currency for every cow they steal and smuggle out”, said the Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal.

Despite the best efforts of the police and other security agencies, cattle smuggling continues through the border at Kaliachak and Baishnabnagar police station areas in Malda district.

Police and BSF conducted a joint raid at Chori-Anantapur village under Kaliachak police station last night and apprehended on Esraf Ali. The BSF seized Rs 53,000 in fake Indian currencies from his possession along with three improvised firearms and cartridges Malda SP added.

On Saturday, the BSF had intercepted one Naushad Ali, a resident of Mahabbatpur, and had seized Rs 5 lakh in fake Indian currency from his possession.

Nausad Ali reportedly confessed before the police that he had brought the fake Indian notes from Bholahat in Nawabganj district of Bangladesh.