Malda and Jalpaiguri in north Bengal have emerged as conduits, says a report prepared by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on the smuggling of fake currency notes.

“The villagers are paid around Rs 2,000 per consignment. They cross the borders with cattles and sell them for around Rs 40,000-50,000 in fake currency. Since they use the Gramin mobile and Bangladeshi mobile service to fix deals, their calls cannot be intercepted by the security agencies. As per our survey, more than 70 per cent of the villagers in Kaliachawk in Malda have been forced to smuggle cattles and carry fake notes into Bengal,” said a senior DRI official.

“Since villagers carry small consignments, there are less chances they will be caught,” he added.

According to DRI records, in September 2009, its team arrested two persons from Malda who were carrying Rs 2 lakh to Delhi in fake currency notes. They were given Rs 84,000 to take the consignment.

In October, 2009, a villager was arrested from Farakka in Malda while he was trying to board a train to Delhi with a consignment of Rs 5 lakh in fake notes.

In March, 2010, a daily wage labour was arrested from Farakka railway station with Rs 1 lakh. He was instructed to go to Patna and was paid Rs 20,000 to do the job.