As per data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there is declining trend in Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) seized during the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. This was stated by Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of State for Finance & Corporate Affairs, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Giving more setails, Shri Thakur stated that the Government of India has taken various measures to check the smuggling and circulation of FICN in the country, which inter alia, include:
- FICN Coordination Group (FCORD) has been formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to share intelligence/information among the security agencies of the state/centre to counter the problem of circulation of fake currency cases.
- A Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell (TFFC) has been constituted in NIA to investigate terror funding and fake currency cases.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between India and Bangladesh to prevent and counter smuggling and circulation of fake currency notes.
- Security at the international borders has been strengthened by using new surveillance technology, deploying additional manpower for round the clock surveillance, establishing observations posts along the international border, erection of border fencing and intensive patrolling.
Fake currency enforcement strengthened via intelligence coordination, NIA investigation cell, international MoU and enhanced border surveillance. National data show a declining trend in Fake Indian Currency Notes seizures. The Government has implemented coordinated measures to prevent smuggling and circulation of counterfeit notes, including formation of a FICN Coordination Group for intelligence sharing, establishment of a Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell in the NIA to investigate terror-funding links, an international Memorandum of Understanding to counter transnational smuggling, and strengthened border security through surveillance technology, additional manpower, observation posts, fencing and intensified patrolling.