Foreigners scamming the unwary with counterfeit currency

Many foreigners living in Bangladesh are involved with different sports clubs and local businesses.

However, it is often difficult to explain how some foreigners manage to maintain a lavish lifestyle and rent expensive residences with the work they do in Bangladesh.

Such foreign nationals are often involved in illegal activities such as smuggling drugs and selling foreign currencies, as they are often remain above suspicion of the people and law enforcers.  

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Thursday detained one such Mali citizen named Bkaou Camara, in connection with counterfeiting foreign currencies including the US dollar. 

The DMP's Cyber Security and Crime Division said that they have learned about a gang of counterfeiters after arresting Bkaou from Taj hotel in Moghbazar area of Dhaka.   

Bkaou was selling counterfeit foreign currencies at the hotel. 

A police team seized fake Tk1,000 banknotes worth Tk1 lakh and two bundles of black and white papers used in making fake currency from Bkaou's possession.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Dhruba Joetirmoya Gope, who led the operation, told The Business Standard that the arrestee has confessed to his involvement in counterfeiting dollars and distributing fake currencies. 

"During primary investigation, Bkaou said that he came to Bangladesh just three months ago and from the very beginning he joined a counterfeiting gang," Gope said, adding, "But our sources said Bkaou was working with several other foreigners. 

"Moreover, some other rackets are also involved in those crimes for over a year." 

Who are the targets of counterfeiters? 

The racket members are active in areas with residential hotels such as Gulshan and Banani, near money exchange offices and especially around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said the senior assistant commissioner of police. 

According to the police, the racket possesses black and white papers which has been used for counterfeiting US dollars. 

"The racket members sells counterfeit dollars to the outbound immigrants at the airport, hotels or around money exchange offices at prices lower than the market rate. No one doubts the foreign nationals with fake currencies and the culprits exploit that trust," Joetirmoya added. 

The Cyber Security and Crime Division sources said that at least a hundred foreign nationals and different groups are involved with US dollar counterfeiting in Bangladesh. 

"We will get further information once we can interrogate the arrestee during remand," Joetirmoya added.