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Four people arrested for printing counterfeit US dollars in Zimbabwe

by Staff reporter
19 May 2012 at 23:08hrs | Views
Police in Harare have arrested four members of a five-man gang of criminals for printing and circulating thousands of counterfeit United States dollars.

Law enforcement agents swooped on the suspects after they allegedly gave a fake US$10 note to a milk vendor who operates along the Harare-Mutorashanga highway.

The sting operation led to the recovery of counterfeit notes worth US$33 000 and the arrest of Taengwa Phiri (25), Thulani Chipembere (29), John Killer (31) and Saustino Jumbe (30).

Mashonaland West provincial police spokesperson Inspector Clemence Mabgweazara disclosed that they tracked the gang after the vendor filed a report in Mutorashanga.

"Our officers managed to arrest three members of the gang at Mutorashanga Business Centre and after interrogation the suspects led us to the hideout in Harare's Sunningdale suburb.

"Our investigations revealed that the fake notes were being printed in Sunningdale before being taken to Mbare and other places where they were sold. A bundle of US$140 fake notes was being sold for US$20.

"Buyers of these notes would in turn use them to transact business with unsuspecting members of the public," he said.

Insp Mabgweazara said police also recovered a printer, bond paper, a camera and 63 bottles of hystallix cough syrup.

Source - SM