PHUKET, THAILAND – Thai police seized nearly 50 suspected counterfeit US$100 bills from a Chinese traveler at a Phuket shopping mall currency exchange.
Routine check exposes suspicious US banknotes
Staff at the Lion Exchange booth in Central Phuket noticed irregularities during a standard security check when a woman tried to change almost fifty US$100 notes. The texture and security features of the bills immediately raised concerns, prompting employees to call the police without delay. Officers arrived quickly at the mall and took possession of the notes for further examination.
Chinese traveler says cash came from Macau casinos
The woman was identified as Li Yaru, a Chinese national, who cooperated with the officers and handed over all of the banknotes for forensic testing. During questioning, she offered an unusual explanation for the roughly US$5,000, equivalent to about €4,600.
“I have kept the money in a safe for around ten years,”
said Li Yaru, traveler.
She stated that she brought the cash back from a visit to casinos in Macau about a decade earlier.
“I am not aware of any wrongdoing and did not know that there could be anything wrong with the banknotes,”
said Li Yaru, traveler. Police treated her statements as an important part of the investigation while specialists examined the seized notes in a laboratory.
Authorities see pattern in Phuket counterfeit cases
Investigators noted that this incident was not isolated, as Phuket had seen several similar cases this year. In March, a Russian woman was arrested after allegedly trying to exchange counterfeit US dollar bills, and months earlier an Uzbek suspect was wanted in connection with the same offense. The series of cases deeply worried authorities, who feared a systematic spread of counterfeit currency in the island’s tourist hubs.
Exchange booths tighten checks and stay alert
Representatives of currency exchange outlets reported that stricter verification procedures had already become standard practice. These measures were intended to protect both the businesses and unsuspecting customers from accepting fake notes. Police urged all exchange offices to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious transactions immediately.
Travel ban imposed while forensic tests proceed
While the forensic review of the seized banknotes was under way, Li Yaru was placed under a temporary ban on leaving Thailand, a standard step in such cases. If the notes were confirmed as counterfeit, she faced further questioning and possible criminal consequences under Thai law. Police said they would release more information once the laboratory results were available, as Phuket’s tourist areas remained on heightened alert for counterfeit money.