Measures taken by the security agencies in arresting the influx of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) have been yielding positive results.

In a significant development along the India-Bangladesh border, the Indian security agencies in the span of just six and a half months have intercepted FICN valuing Rs.1.65 crore -- a little less than the total amount seized in the whole of last year.

While in 2014 FICN valuing Rs.1.79 crore was seized and 31 persons including two Bangladeshis were arrested, this year Rs.1.65 crore was intercepted from 15 people of which only one was from Bangladesh.

The seizures and have been carried out by the South Bengal Frontier of the Border Security Force.

However, of late other agencies such as National Investigation Agency and the West Bengal government have also strengthened their efforts to prevent influx of counterfeit currency.

Strong measures

“Certain areas along both sides of the border, such as Kailachak in West Bengal’s Malda district, serve as the hub of FICN smuggling. In December 2013, the South Bengal Frontier of BSF had deputed an officer of the rank of deputy commandant who deals exclusively with the smuggling of FICN,” Sandeep Salunke, IG South Bengal Frontier of BSF, told The Hindu .

A senior officer of NIA also told The Hindu that the central premier investigating agency even has a dedicated wing dealing specifically with cases relating to smuggling of FICN.

“The Section 15 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, was amended in 2013 wherein the damage to the monetary stability of India by way of production of smuggling or high quality fake Indian paper currency was declared a terrorist Act,” the officer said.

The NIA had last month arrested one person from Kaliachak in the West Bengal Malda district in connection with a case involving seizure of Rs.20 lakh from Old Delhi Railway station in February 2015. The agency has also taken up quite a few cases involving large amount of FICN arrested along the India-Bangladesh border.

While the Ministry of Home Affairs have set up FICN Co-ordination Group ( FOCORD) to share intelligence among different agencies, the amount of FICN seizure between 2010 to 2014 is over Rs.180 crore as per data obtained from the National Crime Records Bureau.