Police seized bundles of fake $100 bills equivalent to P27 million from a 60-year-old man who tried to exchange the counterfeit money to Philippine peso in Legazpi Village, Makati City on Monday, July 17.
According to Southern Police District (SPD) director Police Brig. Gen. Kirby John Brion Kraft, the suspect (name withheld) previously tried to convert the counterfeit money to peso in a local bank. However, due to the large amount of money involved, the bank referred the suspect to a forex broker.
During the suspect's transaction with the forex broker, the cashier alerted the company's management after noticing that the suspect's bills are fake.
Police operatives recovered from the suspect large quantity of fake US$100 bills packaged in bundles (equivalent to P27 million) and a metal box containing more counterfeit bills.
Kraft said the recovered evidence will be brought to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for further verification and to establish the extent of the counterfeit money operation.
The suspect is facing charges of illegal possession and use of counterfeit treasury notes and other financial instruments.
The police official urged the public to be vigilant and wary of individuals using fake money.