On Thursday, 18 January 2018, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s (JMPD) K9-Unit arrested a 35 year old foreign national for possession of approximately R300 000 worth of fake bank notes, as well other counterfeit currencies.
During a routine Stop-and-Search Operation by the JMPD K9 Unit on Heidelberg Road, a suspicious white Peugeot vehicle was pulled over for inspections, where-after the officers discovered a plastic bag containing an unusually large amount of cash.
JMPD K9 officers was then lead by the driver of the vehicle to his house in Allenspark where the K9 Officers discovered a counterfeiting operation being run inside his house.
The suspect was immediately arrested, and the counterfeit bank notes consisting of R300 000; US Dollars; Nigerian Naira; and a mini printing press and equipment were seized. The suspect is being detained by the police and will face serious criminal charges of money laundering and possession of counterfeit notes.
This kind of criminal operations which hurts the economy of Johannesburg. Unsuspecting shops and small businesses would often lose out on making an honest living when fake money is used to pay them for their goods.
I applaud the JMPD Officers for their vigilance and their resolute effort to bring crime in the City of Joburg to its knees.
The police will investigate whether the suspect is part of a syndicate and trace the tracks of these fake bank notes.
The Department of Public safety urges the public to closely check suspicious bank notes, and report anyone that tries to circulate counterfeit money, to the police.
Anyone with information regarding counterfeit money or suspicious activity in their neighbourhood are urged to contact the JMPD on 011 375 5911.