Sunday 05 December 2010:
ADP foils fake Dollar racket
Abu Dhabi Police foiled an attempt by two Arab men (Accountant and merchant) to circulate counterfeit 14 million Dollars; most of them were wads of ordinary paper cut in the same size as dollar banknotes printed in black and white ink. They claimed that the black and white colors on the surface of the notes were merely colors which could be removed completely, to facilitate chemical analysis.
Colonel Ali Saeed Al Nuaimi, Deputy Director of ADP Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said "The Forensic laboratory confirmed that the dollars are counterfeit and some of them are black and white papers cut in the same size of dollar notes. During investigation each suspect accused the other of responsibility for the crime, ability to wash paper with chemicals, with a view to persuade victims to believe that the note are genuine, and selling them at low prices".
Colonel Al Nuaimi confirmed that the case was of a very serious nature. Immediately after receiving a report, our men worked out a plan of action to nab the suspects.
The probe was initiated after the first suspect, identified as (G. F. M., 49), an accountant tried to sell counterfeit currency to undercover agent. After he acquainted with the undercover agent, the suspect agreed to pass on USD4million for only Dh250,000. When agreed on time and place to conclude the deal, the suspect changed his mind and agreed again on USD2million in return for Dh100,000, claiming he needed to test the seriousness of the buyer.
Colonel (DR.) Rashid Mohammad Bu Rasheed, Head of Organized Crime Section at ADP CID, said "The suspect was arrested during Eid Al Adha during delivery process. Police found in his possession the tools of his work, including black pieces of paper cut in the same size of USD100 notes hidden inside a big bag to con the victim into the illusion of he could chemically wash them and make them real. The police operation was coded (Black Dollars Storm)”.
“Upon confrontation the first suspect confessed ownership of seized items, and claimed they belonged to the second suspect, an Arab businessman, identified as (Aa. M. Aa., 40), who asked him to change the agreement with under cover buyer, to ensure that the latter had the money, claiming that he was not aware that he was engaged in an illegal activity. All he knew the black dollars were bought from abroad. Some people used to buy them in their current form, and then were washed chemically to become real. He involved in the activity for his need for money”, added Bu Rasheed.
“The operation resulted in arrest of the second suspect, who was kept under surveillance by ADP Police while he was driving his vehicle on (Abu Dhabi – Al Ain Road), The police searched his residence and found nothing there. But the police found a large stash of counterfeit dollars hidden in metal and leather bags in a manor belonged to him in Al Ain, and that he was only keeping them as a favor. According to him the first suspect was fully responsible for them”, added Bu Rasheed.
Colonel Bu Rasheed warned that those involved in such crimes would try to persuade the victim to buy the counterfeit currency. But their modus operandi was to have real dollars wrapped in aluminum foil, wash them later with water to become real. But their dream vanished when they were apprehended by police.
He warned the publi