Jordan Times
Sunday, February 8, 2004
3 Pakistani nationals caught with $20 million in fake bills
Gas station owners referred to courts for mixing fuel
By Rana Husseini
AMMAN — Three Pakistani nationals were referred to the State Security Court last week on charges of possessing around $20 million in forged US banknotes, official sources said Saturday.Head of the General Intelligence Department's Anti-Corruption Unit Colonel Misleh Kayed said the three men, aged 26, 27 and 36, were arrested almost three weeks ago while in possession of the forged bills.
“We received a tip from a Jordanian that these three men contacted him seeking help in selling what is termed as `black dollars' in the Jordanian market,” Kayed said.
The official added that the unit sent several undercover agents posing as buyers and arrested the three men.
The official told The Jordan Times that the three men arrived in the Kingdom recently in a bid to defraud individuals by claiming that they owned “black notes” that would turn into real money once a special chemical material was applied on the money.
“They succeeded in defrauding two parties by selling some of the forged notes for a certain amount of money before they were arrested by the undercover agents,” he said.
He would not elaborate on the amount of money nor the parties that were defrauded by the men.
The official urged citizens who are approached by individuals claiming to be owning “black dollars” for sale to immediately inform the Anti-Corruption Unit.
Meanwhile, the official said the unit's agents referred three gas station owners to the Customs Court for mixing regular gasoline with super gasoline during the Eid Al Adha holiday.
“We received complaints from citizens that some gas stations were tampering with the gasoline and as a result we apprehended three owners and referred them to the specialised court,” Kayed said.
He added that officials disposed of all the mixed gasoline that was in the stations' wells.