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Police bust Gabane fake currency gang

Illustration: Bank notes
Illustration: Bank notes

Bank of Botswana chief financial officer, Daniel Loeto, says a group of 12 young Batswana were recently arrested in Gabane with counterfeiting equipment.

The gang is believed to be responsible for a surge in fake notes this year, where the Bank picked a staggering 3,214 counterfeits between January and June, compared to 917 for whole of last year. The most affected currency is the P200 notes. "In April, there was a report in the Francistown and Tonota policing area of 3,196 counterfeit P200 notes. "The investigations revealed that the production house is around Gabane at a genuine business, a stationary business, and the police raided the business and confiscated the equipment from there," Loeto said.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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