Kolkata: National Investigation Agency today arrested a youth from Sealdah station here for his involvement in a case of smuggling and circulation of FICN last year.
Acting on a tip-off, the sleuths arrested Alam Sekh (24) alias Bhodu, a resident of Daulatpur in Malda this morning near Sealdah railway station, an NIA release said.
The agency was investigating into last May’s case of FICN recovery in Malda district’s Kaliachak where two persons – Sunesh Kumar Sharma of Haryana and Rajan Chopra alias Rajen Kumar of Punjab – were arrested, it said.
Two other persons Jahirul Sekh and Amerul Sekh were also arrested later by the NIA for their involvement.
Initial probe revealed that Alam, who was absconding for the last five months, was a key player in the racket.
Alam was remanded to 12 days in police custody for custodial examination, after being produced before an NIA Special Court
Jahirul used to collect FICN from smugglers from Bangladesh at a rate of Rs 18,000 (genuine Indian currency) for fake notes with face-value of Rs one lakh, the release said.
The probe revealed that Jahirul would forward it to Amerul, who acted as a carrier of the FICN for further circulation in different states in India.
FICN with a face value of Rs 9 lakh and about 800 gm of opium were recovered from Sujapur in the Kaliachak Police station limits last May.
NIA has already chargesheeted Chopra and Sharma under sections 489C, 120B of the IPC, section 18 of the NDPS Act and section 16 of UA(P) Act.