NEW DELHI: Days after a consignment of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) worth Rs 37 lakh coming from China was apprehended in Delhi, another consignment of comparable value from the same country has now been seized on the Indo-Nepal border . This is the first time evidence of FICN being routed from China has been found and the development has caused much concern in the security establishment as China was not used as a fake currency channel till now.

Agencies suspect that the well-established drug cartels in China and Pakistan spy agency ISI ’s influence in that country’s Xinjiang province are being used to push FICN into India. The development poses a tough challenge as Indian agencies have little network in China to stem this rot.

Based on information provided by Indian intelligence agencies, authorities in Nepal on June 24 arrested one Ranjit Jha from Birganj (a city on the Indo-Nepal border) while receiving a consignment of Rs 30 lakh in fake currency. The notes were hidden in electronic dolls, piano and a cradle imported from Hong Kong.

Sources said the consignment was actually coming from Pakistan and Hong Kong was the transit point from where it landed in Nepal through Thai Airways. It was headed to Motihari in Bihar.

On June 22, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had similarly apprehended a courier with Rs 30 lakh in fake currency addressed to a Delhi restaurant. The courier had been sent from China’s restive Xinjiang province. The development became a cause of concern also because it came close on the heels of three Chinese nationals from the same province being apprehended in Leh area of Jammu & Kashmir while trying to illegally cross over to Pakistan.

While there have been intelligence inputs in the past of Pakistan trying to eke out a new FICN route through China after traditional routes of Dubai, Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia got exposed, this the first time a consignment from China has been seized.

"China is already a flourishing drug market conduit where Pakistani underworld has considerable influence. In the recent past, we have also seen growing ISI influence in Xinjiang. China has openly talked about elements from Pakistan fomenting terror in this region. Pakistan could very well be using these assets to push FICN into India," said an officer from the security establishment.

National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has a Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell, has already taken cognizance of the two cases and begun investigations.

However, the worry for Indian agencies is that unlike Nepal, Bangladesh, Dubai and Malaysia — where Indian intelligence agencies have considerable influence — it would be difficult to move China on the issue. "We have conducted operations in the traditional routes and dismantled quite a few cartels in those countries. But it would not be possible in China," said an intelligence officer.

