News / National
Zim cops implicated in fake cash syndicate
29 Aug 2012 at 11:17hrs | Views
Members of the police force in Harare are believed to be involved in a syndicate behind the production of fake US dollar notes, which have flooded the city's cash market.
Four people were recently arrested after using fake notes at shops and bars at Mupandawana Growth Point in Gutu, during the Heroes Day gala concert. Traders were left up in arms after they received hundreds of counterfeit notes, mainly US$10 and US$20 bills, during the event.
SW Radio Africa's Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa reported Tuesday that the notes are circulating across the city.
"The notes have flooded the city. People are being duped, particularly omnibus drivers and vendors and anywhere where it is very busy. This is a scam to get as much change as possible from the fake notes," Muchemwa said.
Muchemwa explained that since the adoption of the US dollar in Zimbabwe, fake US$100 notes have often been in circulation, to the point that many shop owners and vendors stopped accepting the higher value bills. He said that the syndicates behind the production of the fake notes have now changed their tactics, by reproducing lower value notes.
"Now there are fake ten and twenty dollars and even as low as five dollars," Muchemwa said.
He added that some police officials are behind the success of the fake cash ring.
"The people in this syndicate who have been making these fake notes have been repeatedly arrested and then let off. It appears that some police members are protecting these people to make money," Muchemwa said.
To contact this journalist email alex@swradioafrica.com or follow on Twitter @albell88
Four people were recently arrested after using fake notes at shops and bars at Mupandawana Growth Point in Gutu, during the Heroes Day gala concert. Traders were left up in arms after they received hundreds of counterfeit notes, mainly US$10 and US$20 bills, during the event.
SW Radio Africa's Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa reported Tuesday that the notes are circulating across the city.
"The notes have flooded the city. People are being duped, particularly omnibus drivers and vendors and anywhere where it is very busy. This is a scam to get as much change as possible from the fake notes," Muchemwa said.
"Now there are fake ten and twenty dollars and even as low as five dollars," Muchemwa said.
He added that some police officials are behind the success of the fake cash ring.
"The people in this syndicate who have been making these fake notes have been repeatedly arrested and then let off. It appears that some police members are protecting these people to make money," Muchemwa said.
To contact this journalist email alex@swradioafrica.com or follow on Twitter @albell88
Source - SWRadio
