DUSHANBE, July 27, 2010, Asia-Plus -- The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) is seriously concerned over the presence of counterfeit national currency, the somoni, in circulation.

According to the NBT head Sharif Rahimzoda, it has been established that the counterfeit somoni have been manufactured in Afghanistan.  “We have managed to determine the location of counterfeiters and after our application to Afghan authorities and coalition forces, that outlet for manufacturing counterfeit somoni banknotes has been shut down and counterfeiting of somoni banknotes has been stopped,” the Tajik central bank head noted.

Rahimzoda noted that he did not have information about the exact number of counterfeit somoni banknotes in circulation.  He said the counterfeit somoni banknotes had been manufactured at the high level with the use of advanced technologies that makes it practically impossible to detect them with ‘naked eye.’

The Tajik central bank head added that they would inform the population of the presence of counterfeit money in circulation and methods to detect them through national TV channels within the next few days.