Suspect Arrested for Counterfeit Money

On 18 February at 6:30 pm police received information that a man went into a Virgin Gorda restaurant, purchased some items and paid with a counterfeit $100 bill. A search warrant was executed on the premises occupied by Bob George of The Valley and over $1,500 suspected to be counterfeit dollar bills was taken into police custody. Based on additional investigations George was later arrested on suspicion of being in possession of counterfeit currency.

Police Commissioner Barry Webb has advised the public to take special precautions when accepting cash payments, adding that the major crime detectives are actively investigating the proliferation of bogus banknotes in the territory. The maximum penalty for possession of counterfeit money in the BVI is 14 years on indictment.

If you come in contact with what you suspect to be counterfeit money, you are strongly advised to contact the police at once. The money will be analyzed and if it is genuine it will be returned, but in the case that the money is counterfeit it will be destroyed in the prescribed manner.