PESHAWAR, March 22: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) seized a large number of counterfeit US dollars and arrested one person, a senior official told Dawn here on Tuesday. Director FIA Malik Naveed had constituted a special team after receiving information about smuggling of counterfeit currency from Rawalpindi to Peshawar on Monday, said Assistant Director FIA’s Anti-Trafficking Unit, Saleh Mohammad Khan.

At 1.30pm a car was intercepted on the Grand Trunk Road at Jehangira. While checking the vehicle, the FIA team found an empty suitcase, Mr Saleh said.

The team brought the suitcase and the accused to the FIA zonal office in Hayatabad Township and found counterfeit currency amounting to $147,900 from a secret cavity in the bottom of the suitcase, the official added. The FIA arrested Abid Hussain, son of Allah Ditta, a resident of Chan Agha Colony in Wazirbagh area of Peshawar.

Mr Saleh said that the paper used in the fake currency seemed to be imported and the printing was of good quality.