VLADIVOSTOK, September 11 (RIA Novosti) – Police in Russia’s Far Eastern city of Vladivostok seized more than a thousand of fake 5,000-ruble notes (one is equal to about $150), a police spokesman said on Wednesday.
“A suspect handed over 6.5 million rubles [nearly $200,000] in fake notes to an employee of a nationwide cellphone retailer, to have the money transferred to his bank account,” the spokesman said, adding that the suspect was aware that the notes were fake.
He was detained while handing over the money.
The origin of the fake notes is currently being established. Two possible accomplices have been detained.
The suspect faces up to eight years in prison if found guilty.
According to the Russian Central Bank statistics, Russian banks detected 17,445 fake ruble notes in the second quarter of 2013. 5,000-ruble and 1,000-ruble notes traditionally make the bulk of seizures, with some 8,000 and 7,500 fake notes seized in the reported period, respectively.
The number of fake 5,000-ruble notes seized in March-May grew almost 32 percent compared to the same period last year.