Police intercept fake US dollars at Uganda-Kenya border
Busia
Police and intelligence officers in Busia District have intercepted about $300,000 counterfeit money at the Uganda-Kenya border.
The fake currency was being carried by a Ugandan identified as Adam Bashaija Kusasira who was coming from Kenya.
The 34 year old resident of Najeera in Wakiso district had stuffed the counterfeit dollars of 100 denominations in a box at the time of his arrest.
The suspect who hails from Mbarara is in custody at Busia police station.
Mr Kennedy Otiti Adhola, the Busia Resident District Commissioner confirmed the arrest and recovery of the fake dollars which he said were in transit to Kampala.
Authorities say the source of the fake dollars is a South Sudan national in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Mr Kusasira who claims to be a transporter told Daily Monitor that he bought the dollars from a Sudanese national at a hotel in Nairobi at Shs5 Million.
"I bought the dollars with the intention of exchanging them in Kampala for more money," said Mr Kusasira.
The arrest underlines the magnitude of money laundering across the borders of the two states.
Mr Otiti revealed that this is first time security has intercepted a huge amount of counterfeit money.
Mr Otiti said the money laundering racket seems to be sophisticated with many people involved.
