Two arrested with 9,000 fake US banknotes

Some of the seized fake US banknotes. (Photo supplied)
Some of the seized fake US banknotes. (Photo supplied)

A police sting led to the arrest of a man and a woman in Nonthaburi province and seizure of 9,000 forged US$100 banknotes, worth around 34 million baht at face value.

Pol Gen Torsak Sukwimol said Monsajee La-ongnuan, 49, and Panudet Wongnamnong, 58, were arrested in the Muang Thong Thani estate in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi last Thursday.

The woman was arrested first in Room 416 on the fourth floor of P1 building at Muang Thong Thani estate when delivering 2,000 fake US bills to undercover police.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Panudet was arrested with 7,000 more fake $100 bills at a local department store.

According to police, Ms Monsajee said she received the fake bills from Mr Panudet, a resident of Lampang province.

Pol Gen Torsak said the banknotes were newly printed and were very similar to genuine banknotes. The gang sold the bills at a discount via social media.

He said fake US banknotes were circulating widely in Thaland and had spread to nearby countries like Laos and Singapore.