KAILASAHAR, November 12, (TIWN) : Pakistan's ISI, Bangladesh's Islamic militants using Tripura as a transit hub for smuggling fake currencies, arms, contrabands since a long time. Acting on a tip-off SP Unakoti seized 4 bags of agarwood, fake Indian currency of 6,500 rupees and 2 Arabian currency from a vehicle numbered TR-02G-0425 from Bhagabannagar area this morning. Police netted the materials while searching the cars on the way to Dharmanagar. Police also arrested two persons from the vehicle namely Abdul Basar Barobhuinya of Katigara, Assam and Jalal Ahamed of Iajekhaora, Kailasahar. In the last four years, fake Indian currency notes (FICN) worth at least Rs 2,500 crore have been pumped into India by Pakistan's ISI to carry out terror activities. But what gives Indian agencies the worry is that only FICN worth Rs 455 crore has been seized. Of this, Rs 55 crore has been seized in foreign countries. The fake currency, being made in Pakistan under the supervision of the ISI, and with the help of latest technology and world-class standards, including the paper, the ink and the watermark, looks so real that only an expert eye can detect it with the help of pink light.

Police produced before them to the Court and got the custody to further interrogate into the matter. Later police informed that, the market value of seized Agarwood would be not less than 2,00,000 rupees. The Agar was cut off from a tree of Iajekhaora area and was taken to Assam. DFO Prasad Roy visited the Kailasahar Police Station and looked into the seized Agarwood.

Seized fake Indian currency, Agarwood at Kailashahar. TIWN Pic Nov 12

It is noteworthy that, Agar wood is a very valuable forest wealth and is often sold illegally without informing the Forest Department. Now, today’s incident proved that, the illegal buyers of inter-state racket often use fake currency to buy Agar from the sellers. It is also expressed by some higher cops that, the terrorist groups are now aiming forest-wealth of the state to destabilize the economy. Now what the police could extract out is the matter to be seen.

Seized Arabian currency at Kailashahar. TIWN Pic Nov 12

Smugglers being taken to Police custody in Kailashahar. TIWN Pic Nov 12

That Bangladesh remains the favourite destination of rackets smuggling fake currency, weapons into South Asia's eastern flank should cause worry both India and Bangladesh. Because as long as Pakistani intelligence agency made fake notes, weapons are easily available and at reasonable prices, international smuggling cannot be totally eradicated from a region.  That Bangladesh's coastal region was still the favourite drop site for those trying to smuggle in weapons into Northeast India became evident during Anthony Shimray's interrogation by the NIA. The NSCN leader has confessed he had paid Thai gunrunner Willy  to arrange for a huge consignment of Chinese weapons to be dropped at Cox Bazar in 2010 winter but the plan had to be cancelled because he was arrested in Kathmandu . This despite the arms haul at Chittagong in 2004 , in which ten truckloads of weapons were seized. The huge haul at Habiganj -- 200 rocket launchers, as many mortars, even many anti-tank weapons -- indicates that the Bangladesh coast is still being used for bringing in large consignments of weapons and they are taken inland for transfer to Northeast India and / or for others of India. Pakistan's ISI and Bangladeshi Islamic Militants using north east India to smuggle weapons, fake currency to all extremist groups in India.