Babil police arrest Baghdad civil servant for circulating counterfeit money

BABYLON, Iraq — Police in Babil province said they arrested a civil servant from Baghdad accused of circulating counterfeit currency in the governorate. The Babil Police Directorate said the suspect, who works as a government employee in the capital, was placed under surveillance based on intelligence information. According to the directorate, the man attempted to pass counterfeit 25,000-dinar banknotes to merchants and shopkeepers. Officers from the Abu Gharq unit attached to the Babil Police anti-crime branch launched an operation after gathering and analyzing intelligence, then caught him using the fake notes at businesses near the Aliyya bint al-Hasan shrine. Counterfeit banknotes were seized from the suspect following his detention. An investigation team is reviewing security camera footage, digital data and physical evidence, the directorate added.