Police confiscate 8-mln-yuan counterfeit money in SW China

CHENGDU, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Police in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, said they had uncovered 14 cases related to counterfeit money, confiscating counterfeit money with a face value of 8 million yuan (1.2 million U.S. dollars) last year.

Chengdu Police said five dens producing fake money were busted and six fake money transport lines broken up in 2017.

A branch of the People's Bank of China reported to Chengdu Police that they had found a batch of fake money circulating last July. A detection brigade then investigated and discovered that the fake money was purchased by people from southern Guangdong Province.

The fake money was then sold in rural-urban fringe zones, rural areas and areas with huge and highly mobile populations in Chengdu, targeting senior residents.

Some people used 100 yuan fake renminbi to buy goods worth around 10 yuan, so that they could receive real change from small retailers, said Luo Kun, a local policeman.

After the investigation, police arrested a number of suspects last September in Deyang City, Sichuan, and ferreted out counterfeit notes with a face value of more than 3 million yuan on the site.

"Since the Spring Festival is approaching, some suspects will seize this opportunity to gain profits through changing large-denomination fake money into real money," Luo warned, adding that people should carefully check details on notes to avoid being cheated. Enditem