NIA Raids Three Gujarat Cities in Counterfeit Currency Operation
The National Investigation Agency conducted simultaneous raids across Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara on May 23 as part of a sustained investigation into a fake Indian currency note (FICN) distribution network operating in Gujarat. Five individuals were arrested and counterfeit notes with a face value exceeding ₹4 crore were seized.
The Network Structure
According to the NIA’s post-raid statement, the network operated through a well-established distribution chain: high-quality counterfeit currency printed in Pakistan was brought into India through the land borders in West Bengal and Rajasthan, then transported to Gujarat through a series of trusted carriers. The Ahmedabad unit of the network served as a redistribution hub, receiving large-denomination bundles and breaking them into smaller quantities for circulation through hawkers, petty traders, and in some cases, through mid-level financial transactions.
What Was Seized
The combined seizure across the three cities included 2,840 counterfeit notes of ₹500 denomination, 1,620 counterfeit ₹200 notes, and 940 counterfeit ₹100 notes — totalling ₹4.08 crore in face value. Additionally, officers seized printing templates, binding equipment, and chemical reagents used for quality testing of fake notes to verify their ability to pass basic security checks.
The Five Arrested
The five arrested individuals include two Ahmedabad residents, two from Surat, and one from Vadodara. At least two of the arrested have prior convictions under the Indian Penal Code for currency forgery offences. The NIA has confirmed that further arrests are anticipated as the investigation traces connections to the West Bengal leg of the distribution network.