KATHMANDU: Nepal Police (NP) on Sunday held Mohammad Umer, 47, a Pakistani national, for working as an aide the racketeers involved in Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN).

Police got hold of Umer from Gaushala as per the information passed on to them by one Mariyam, who was arrested with 30 lakhs FICN from the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on March 15.

Police had issued sketch of Umer, a source at the Metropolitan Police Range (MPR), Hanumandhoka told The Himalayan times today.

Police have also been able to trace Umer’s house in Pakistan’s Karachi. A businessman by profession living in house no 8 Q452 in Karachi, Umer frequently visited Nepal and

used to stay in low-budget lodges for security reasons, said police.

Mariyam had told police Umer would come

to Kathmandu and

assess the situation and then would inform his friends in Pakistan. Basically, he was working as an informer for FICN racketeers.

Mariyam during police interrogation has revealed the modus operandi of the fake note racketeers.

Mariyam told police that one Yusuf, a Pakistani national, had given her two Pakistani numbers 00923323412855 and 0092345828314. Yusuf had instructed her to wait for a call from one these numbers. She was supposed to meet to Nepali nationals here in Kathmandu.

Yusuf, according to Mariyam, used to select people who could be used to carry the fake currency notes.

‘FICN racketeers mostly pick people above 50 years of age so that police will not suspect them”, Mariyam has told police in her statement

Another Pakistani, Mohammad Javed arranges flight tickets for those selected for carrying the fake notes.

FICN racketeers get currency papers from foreign companies and they use high-quality ink and refined machines, according to Mariyam. The notes are printed in Lahore or Multan. Mariyam also told police that it was necessary

to establish strong

mechanism to detect fake currencies for the racketeers were coming up with more sophisticated technology to produce fake notes.

Nepal, Mariyam revealed to police, is the main transit point to flood Indian markets with FICN.

“Once brought to Nepal, these fake notes are smuggled to India via Birgunj, Nepalgunj or other bordering towns.

Police suspect the Nepali accomplices to be operators or staff at transport companies.