Kozhikode: The Feroke police on Saturday busted a fake currency racket after conducting raids across Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. The operation, which began around 9 pm on Friday, continued until late Saturday night. Police arrested five youths and seized 57 counterfeit notes from them. Officials added that a printer and 30 sheets of paper used to print the fake currency were also recovered.

The accused are Kozhikode natives Dijin K (19) and Sarang (20), and Malappuram natives Athul Krishna C (19), Amjad Shah and Afnan Thayyil.

A special police squad led by Feroke Assistant Commissioner AM Sidheeque and Feroke Station Inspector Sreejith carried out the raids. According to officials, the operation was launched after receiving a tip-off about a youth distributing fake notes at a house in Ramanattukkara. Following this, police raided the house of Dijin and recovered 35 fake ₹500 notes. After interrogating him, the team proceeded to Athul’s house at Arimbra in Malappuram, from where 20 more counterfeit ₹500 notes were seized.

Police then began searching for those who had supplied the fake notes to Athul, which led them to Malappuram natives Amjad Shah and Afnan. From Amjad’s house in Areekode, police recovered 30 A4 sheets containing uncut counterfeit ₹500 notes.

While tracing the network of the racket, the investigation team reached a rented house in Manassery, where they arrested Sarang along with the printer allegedly used to produce the fake notes.

Among the arrested, Dijin worked as a painter and Athul was employed in solar light installation. Amjad is a BSc Nursing student, while Afnan is a BA History student.

Police said the raid in Manassery continued late into the night under the supervision of the Feroke Inspector. The accused were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-II in Kozhikode on Saturday night.