Fake bills now made on Saipan

The problem of counterfeit bills on Saipan is getting serious, with people involved in illegal drugs believed to be behind the circulation of these fake bills on the island, according to the Crime Stoppers Program coordinator.

Police Officer 2 Jason Tarkong underscored the seriousness of the problem, saying their information indicates that these fake dollar bills are now being made locally.

The gravity of the situation has warranted a visit by two U.S. Secret Service special agents, who conducted a counterfeit training at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s office in Garapan yesterday.

“It’s serious enough to have the feds here,” said Tarkong, referring to the visiting trainers, U.S. Secret Service special agents Virgil D. “Gus” Reichle Jr. and Mac Bostic.

He said Reichle and Bostic held the training for business and law enforcement representatives due to a recent rash of counterfeit complaints on the island.

Tarkong said that advances in computer and printing technology have now made it possible for these fake bills to be made on the island.

“But we do have some leads,” he emphasized, declining to elaborate so not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Tarkong said that, as the Crime Stoppers coordinator, he received a complaint about counterfeit money during the Christmas holiday.

He said the Department of Public Safety also received a total of eight active complaints of fake dollar bills during and after the holiday season.

Tarkong said he then spoke with Reichle to alert him to the problem. Reichle, who is based in Guam, came to the island a couple of weeks ago to follow up on the complaints.

The Crime Stoppers coordinator said most of the victims are stores.

He said the suspects started with the $5 and $10 denominations, but now they are circulating $50 and $100 bills.

“Regardless of denominations, it’s still a federal offense,” Tarkong pointed out.

He said one suspect was recently arrested, but more people are expected to be caught soon.

Tarkong said that people dealing with methamphetamine or “ice” are the same people believed to be behind the fake money circulating on the islands.

Tarkong was among the participants in yesterday’s training. Reichle also conducted the same training at the Saipan Grand Hotel in February 2008. That time, he told Saipan Tribune that counterfeit U.S. currency was not a big problem yet on the islands.