The biggest fake dollar racket in history: A woman arrested with 210 million fake dollar notes.

Following an extensive intelligence investigation conducted by the Central Criminal Investigation Bureau for approximately one month, a 54-year-old woman was arrested yesterday (08) in the Kotikawatta area with a stock of counterfeit US dollar notes worth seven hundred thousand. Police state that this stock of 7,000 hundred-dollar notes, considered the largest haul of counterfeit foreign currency ever found in Sri Lanka, has a local value between 21 and 26 crore rupees.

Investigations have revealed that the suspect, a resident of Meegahawatta Road, Kotikawatta, previously operated several social clubs in the Colombo area. She is believed to have become involved in this counterfeit note racket through a Pakistani national who frequented those clubs. It is suspected that the said individual meticulously printed these notes in Pakistan and brought them into the country. Although the current market value of a dollar exceeds 340 rupees, this woman targeted millionaire businessmen and sold each dollar for a low price of 284 rupees. Her main tactic was to initially provide a few genuine dollar notes to gain customers' trust, and then supply counterfeit notes in bulk.

Currently, significant attention is being paid to whether an international drug trafficking operation or a money laundering process is behind this massive counterfeit currency racket. Information has been received that such counterfeit notes are used as deposits or 'show money' for international ships transporting drugs from countries like Iran. Authorities also suspect that approximately 2.5 million counterfeit dollars have already been released into the market through this woman via the purchase of gold and gems.

Information has been received that the main suspect involved in this racket, a Pakistani national, is a frequent visitor to nightclubs and casinos, and it is believed that he has already left the country. The US Embassy has also paid special attention to this serious incident, and the arrested suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Aluthkade No. 8 Magistrate's Court today (09). This successful raid was carried out under the guidance of Senior Superintendent of Police Kamal Ariyawansa, Director of the Central Criminal Investigation Division, under the supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General Ranmal Kodithuwakku and Deputy Inspector General Chandana Kodithuwakku, acting on the instructions of Inspector General's Attorney Priyantha Weerasuriya.

Previously, several instances of foreigners bringing counterfeit currency into the country have been uncovered by the Criminal Investigation Department and other security forces. These include the arrest of Pakistani nationals with counterfeit Indian rupees in 2013, the arrest of two Tajik nationals with counterfeit dollars in the Galle area last May, and similar rackets reported from areas such as Kantale, Kohuwala, Minuwangoda, and Galle Face. Regarding this latest incident, authorities urge the public to immediately report to the police if any businessmen have been defrauded.