Five people, including a Khasi woman from Ri-Bhoi district, were arrested by Assam police yesterday evening on suspicion of being involved in the smuggling of counterfeit currency.
Acting on a tip-off, authorities from the Jorabat Police Outpost laid a trap at 9 Mile, Ri-Bhoi, to nab the suspects who were travelling with fake currency. Two were arrested in this operation and information they provided led to the arrest of the other three.
While the arrested Khasi woman was identified as Therina Sohpdang (38) of 11th Mile Mawsmai, the others have been identified as Haidur Ali (45) and Joymal Abidin (32), who are both from Panikhaiti Boko in Assam, Saiful Islam (35) of Phaphra Tuli Darang and Joyman Begum (26) of Kiling.
The counterfeit notes were in denominations of Rs 500, which police believe were meant to be distributed in rural villages of Meghalaya.
Police are investigating further and the five have been booked under relevant acts and are in Lokhra Central Jail.
