Police in Battambang province arrested three Thai nationals and a Cambodian man on Monday night after the group crossed the border from Thailand with $55,300 in counterfeit U.S. dollars they intended to trade for Thai baht, authorities said on Tuesday.
“The suspects told us they were sent by a Thai businessman to Cambodia to bring the fake dollar currency to exchange for baht currency,” said Tith Kul, deputy police chief of Kamrieng district.
Mr. Kul said his officials discovered the counterfeit bills while inspecting one of the men’s bags in Boeng Raing commune at about 11:30 p.m. on Monday.
“We stopped the four people to check for explosive weapons,” he said.
Under questioning, the men admitted that they had intended to exchange the fake cash for real Thai baht, Mr. Kul said, adding that the fake notes had been seized and that authorities planned to send the four suspects to the provincial court today.
