Maungdaw, Arakan State: The Burmese border security force (Nasaka) seized one million kyat in fake currency notes in Maungdaw town on January 19, Nasaka sources said.

On a tip off, Nasaka personnel from Nasaka area 6, outpost camp number 14, went to Khayanchang stream to check a row boat carrying Yaba tablets to Bangladesh, the source said.

But, when they reached the stream, the Yaba, drug smuggler escaped leaving the boat. Nasaka personnel found around 1000 tablets and one million fake notes, the sources added.

The fake notes were of 100 and 200 kyat.

Kyat 100 and 200  currency certificate notes are in circulation in Maungdaw following an understanding with the authorities through the Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) Chairman, People’s Force and USDA member of Block number 3 of Maungdaw, said a shopkeeper from Maungdaw market.

The currency certificate notes in Maungdaw are small currency notes of Kyat 100 and 200 and most daily labourers change their big notes to small ones for their daily needs, the shopkeeper said. “The currency certificate notes are in circulation in Maungdaw is a fundraising program for USDA.”

After, seizure of the fake notes, in Maungdaw most daily labourers are facing difficulties, the shopkeeper added.

“I lost 10,000 kyat which I saved for a month and changed to small notes for my family use, but now these notes are not valid in Maungdaw. When I asked the agent about the money, the agent replied in the negative,” said a daily labour in Maungdaw market.

Most people from Maungdaw change their money into small notes for their business or daily use from the agent, but, now it is not valid and people have lost thousands, said a school teacher.