A 53-year-old Sri Lankan woman has been arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) after police seized 60 bundles of counterfeit US$100 notes with a face value of US$700,000 during a raid in Kotikawatta.
The arrest was made at the suspect’s residence earlier today following an investigation into an alleged counterfeit currency operation.
Police said the fake currency haul has an estimated face value of around Rs. 210 million.
Investigators suspect the counterfeit notes were printed overseas and smuggled into Sri Lanka. Police further revealed that a Pakistani national is believed to be linked to the operation and is currently under investigation.
According to police, the suspects had allegedly used the counterfeit US dollar notes to deceive local businessmen and were preparing to exchange the fake currency at a rate of Rs. 284 per US dollar.
The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court No. 8 tomorrow.
Investigations are continuing to identify other individuals connected to the alleged counterfeit currency racket. (Newswire)
