An NIA report pointing to the ISI pumping fake currency into India via Vietnam states: “In an attempt to avoid suspicion on traditional routes like Nepal and Bangladesh for sending in fake currency the ISI has set up a network in Vietnam too for sending couriers from there. Thailand has been under the scanner for quite some time but it is now revealed that the FICN flow from there too has increased substantially.”
Security agencies operating at all major international airports across India have been directed to start “stringent passenger profiling of those coming in from these two sectors”. Intelligence agencies are already trying to gather more information about the key ISI operatives in Vietnam managing the fake currency racket there.
Both the NIA and intelligence agencies grew suspicious about the Vietnam route when a female passenger was detained at Kathmandu airport en route to Delhi a few months ago with a large amount of fake Indian currency.
During interrogation she disclosed that the currency had been handed to her in Vietnam with instructions that she should hand it over to a person at Delhi airport. The suspect disclosed that she was merely a courier.
This information was further developed, revealing that Vietnam indeed had fast become a major hub for pumping fake currency into India. It was also learnt that this fake currency was primarily being used to fund militancy.
“The fake currency is collected from couriers mainly at Delhi international airport and is then sent to the Kashmir Valley. Obviously there is a nexus between militant outfits operating in the Kashmir Valley and those managing the fake currency racket,” a top intelligence official said.