NBI Assistant Director Nestor Mantaring presented to media yesterday suspect Baghdad Jhupli Jimlani, alias "Dr. Allan," a resident of San Andres Bukid, Manila.
He has been detained following his arrest by agents of the NBI-Reaction Arrest and Interdiction Division (RAID).
The fake dollars reportedly came from Mindanao. Jimlani, acting as a middleman, was entrusted to sell the fake dollars to Metro Manila clients, who then sell them to banks and moneychangers.
"These fake dollars look like the real thing. Sa ganda ng quality kahit bangko malamang maloko," Mantaring said. "But the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has certified them to be counterfeit."
Since the bogus bills have infiltrated the market, the NBI asked the public to be extra cautious when buying dollars.
Assistant regional director Ruel Lasala, head of NBI-RAID, admitted that only few people know how to spot the fake from a real $100 bill."
Lasala said that on Aug. 20, they received information that Jimlani was selling fake $100 bills at P145 each.
They initially arranged for the purchase of 50 bundles for the entrapment, but the suspect was careful and decided to sell only 10 bundles.
On Aug. 30, an agent posing as a buyer met the suspect at a fastfood outlet in Malate, Manila. Once they have closed the deal, operatives approached the suspect and arrested him.
He was charged with counterfeiting of foreign currency notes and attempted estafa before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office.
Lasala added they are conducting follow-up operations on the illegal transport of counterfeit money to Manila from Mindanao.