LOCAL authorities are probing an alleged counterfeit currency ring that involves operatives from Guyana and Peru.A top official of the Bank of Guyana told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that the police have been alerted and are currently investigating. This official disclosed that counterfeit /forged currency notes are allegedly coming out of Peru, and appealed to citizens to be alert when transacting business.

Contacted on the issue, Acting Crime Chief Hugh Jessamy confirmed that an investigation has been launched, and alluded to a report appearing on Monday in another section of the media to the effect that a Kitty grocer was conned into changing a fake US$50 note into local currency.

Jessamy also warned citizens to be careful in transacting business, especially when foreign currencies are involved. “Persons have become brilliant and have been making (detection of) forged currencies almost impossible for the average man to decipher,” the police officer warned.

Incidents of counterfeiting had greatly decreased on the local scene, and this had led to the Police Force paying less attention to the issue, the Acting Crime Chief explained. The last major report on the issue came last year when the Guyana Chronicle reported that a man was moving around the city with counterfeit US$100 bills, which he has been passing off on unsuspecting persons, particularly female roadside food and snack vendors around the city.

Such cases, the acting Crime Chief explained, are hard to crack down on, since persons who are caught with forged currencies usually say they had received same from someone else, and the trend continues from there. He, however, stressed that the GPF intends to study the issue carefully and ensure that it gets down to the bottom of the alleged scheme.