Within weeks of the launch of the new generation of bank notes by the Bank of Namibia the police in Swakopmund have managed to confiscate a total of N$11 900 in counterfeit banknotes, half of which were of the new type the Central Bank declared difficult to counterfeit only a number of weeks ago.

The vigilance of a bar attendant in Mondesa, who was paid with a counterfeit N$100 bill, led to the arrest of two suspects on Sunday and the arrest of a third suspect on Monday.

Police Regional Commander, Commissioner Samuel //Hoebeb exhibited the counterfeit currency to the media on Tuesday and explained that the bar attendant in question contacted the police after she became suspicious of the note tendered for payment. The police arrested the suspects and after interrogation the police were led to the home of a third suspect, whom they then arrested at a house where counterfeit money was found hidden in a vehicle’s boot. It is unknown whether the vehicle and house belong to any of the suspects.

The three suspects in the forgery were due to make their first appearance in the Swakopmund Magistrates Court on charges of fraud and possession of counterfeit currency on Wednesday. The case was remanded to a later date, pending a full investigation. The police’s commercial branch deals with the investigation and specific points of interest to be investigated revolve around whether more people were involved and the origin of the counterfeit.

According to Commissioner //Hoebeb the Bank of Namibia also sent officials to Swakopmund to study the forged notes. Apart from the new generation forgeries, slightly less than half of the fake notes were still of the old generation notes.