The Bhutanese Leading the way.
On 27th April 2025, Jaigaon Police arrested an Indian national, a resident of Kumargram, Alipurduar, West Bengal, for possession of counterfeit Bhutanese currency totaling Nu 127,500. The counterfeit currency consisted of 255 notes in the denomination of Nu 500.
The suspect claims that he is a driver who came to exchange the fake currency with original Indian currency. He confessed to having exchanged fewer notes for Indian original notes with a commission of 20% from his acquaintance for the usage. He has confessed to not knowing the root of the counterfeit printing.
The suspect claims that he was told through a pawn shop that the phone shop accepts such exchange, which the shopkeeper in his stance has fully denied.
While interviewing a phone shop owner who reported the suspicion, he shared that the suspect came to purchase a smartphone. The shop owner then called a few of his friends to check the currency, and his suspicion was valid as the notes turned out to be fake currency.
The shopkeeper said that this is not first case of Bhutanese fake currency circulation. As earlier fake notes of Nu 100 denomination were identified.
The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) has alerted the public to exercise caution when handling currency and to remain vigilant for suspicious transactions.
Further, if incase an individual encounters any suspicious notes or related activities, then one must report the incident immediately to your nearest police station.
RBP said that this is the second case of counterfeit currency this year. Investigation is underway to find out the source from where the fake currency is being circulated.
RBP said, “We are also working hand-in-hand with the Indian counterpart.”
Currently, RBP is in talks with RMA to create public awareness on identifying such fake currency.
RBP shared there was an incident in Samdrupjongkhar where the fuel outlet reported a case of counterfeit currency while depositing some cash in a bank that identified and caught the fake currency. The bank then informed the police on identifying a few fake Nu 500 notes.
RBP said this can be coincidence as the individual arrested in Jaigaon mentioned about the origin from Assam, and Samdrupjongkhar borders Assam.
Also, earlier this year, two Bhutanese men were arrested in possession of counterfeit USD 9,500.
The two men, aged 35 and 45 years, were arrested after receiving a tip-off on 6th March 2025.
An investigation led to the initial arrest of the 45-year-old suspect in Babesa, Thimphu, on 7th March.
Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to possessing 95 counterfeit USD 100 bills and revealed that an accomplice was in possession of an equal amount of fake currency.
Police seized the counterfeit notes from his residence.
Following this lead, police arrested the second suspect, the 35-year-old man from Lhamoizingkha, Dagana on 9th March and seized the remaining counterfeit bills.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the counterfeit currency may have been smuggled from across the border.
RBP said that though counterfeit bills have not significantly infiltrated the local market yet, the risk is growing. RBP said, “We urge the public, especially the business community handling large financial transactions, to be vigilant in verifying currency authenticity to avoid potential fraud.”
According to RBP statistics, there was one counterfeiting case reported in 2024 and another in 2023.
