Counterfeiters and fake money manufacturers are numerous in Mahajanga. A network of forgers was dismantled by the Criminal Research Section of the National Gendarmerie last Wednesday.
Law enforcement received intelligence regarding a group of scammers attempting to sell a counterfeit banknote manufacturing machine at a hotel in Tanambao Sotema. An operation was launched to catch the perpetrators in the act. Upon the arrival of the police, three suspects managed to escape, while one accomplice was arrested. Counterfeit 20,000 ariary banknotes were also seized.
“A trap was set following the intelligence gathered. Three of the four criminals fled, but a device allegedly used to manufacture 20,000 ariary notes was seized. They were about to find a buyer to sell the fake machine for 500 million ariary. One forger was also caught on the spot. Their primary goal was to sell the fake device and scam the buyer, rather than actually producing counterfeit money,” stated Squadron Leader Angelo Rinaldy Nandrasana, head of the Criminal Research Section.
According to investigators, the machine cannot produce authentic banknotes. A real 20,000 ariary note was pre-inserted into the device. During the demonstration, as soon as white paper is inserted, the real banknote comes out of the machine.
Searches are ongoing to locate the three other suspects. The arrested accomplice, a native of Soavina in the Haute Matsiatra region, has been referred to the public prosecutor’s office. This case recalls a previous significant seizure made last September by Mahajanga gendarmes, where one hundred fake thousand-dollar bills were discovered following anonymous tips.
In Madagascar, the manufacturing and circulation of counterfeit currency constitute a serious crime, severely punished by the Malagasy Penal Code.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-25 06:23:55 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/mahajanga-un-reseau-de-fabricants-de.html