SEREMBAN: Police have arrested three suspects and seized 19 counterfeit RM100 notes from them.

       Negri Sembilan police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohamad Mat Yusop said the suspects – two women and a man, aged between 21 and 46 – were arrested in Taman Ayer Keroh in Melaka on Tuesday (Jan 12) evening.

       DCP Mohamad added that the suspects then led the police to a residential unit in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur where they found several packets weighing some 72g containing a substance believed to be heroin, and 0.86g of syabu.

       He also said the male suspect told police he bought the counterfeit notes from a man in Kuala Lumpur for RM50 each.

       DCP Mohamad added that a car was also seized from the suspects, and checks on all three found they had criminal records.

       On the investigation, DCP Mohamad said a report was lodged by a hawker in Rembau on Monday (Jan 11) about two customers who had paid for RM16 worth of food with a RM100 bill.

       He added that the hawker suspected the banknote was fake and his suspicions were proven when the note was examined at a nearby store.

       The case is being probed under Section 489B of the Penal Code for trafficking in counterfeit currency which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine.

       DCP Mohamad said prior to this, Negri Sembilan police received five reports on counterfeit notes being used in the state, with three in Gemas and one each in Rembau and Nilai.