The United States Secret Service told a Kenyan court Ksh2 billion seized at Barclays Bank in 100 US dollar notes was fake.
US Secret Service reveals shocking details of money seized at Barclays Bank
Barclays Bank Queensway branch, where DCI was probing fake currency bust
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The Secret Service examined 13,194 specimen notes sent to them and worth 1.3 million dollars (Ksh131 million) and concluded that they are counterfeit.
According to reports, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sought help from the U.S and sent the money to the U.S Secret Service.
Gilbert Gunn, an investigative agent with the US law enforcement agency, examined the notes and concluded that the money lacked security features for US dollars.
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File image released by the DCI showing some of the fake cash
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Dollars checklist
Court papers filed before Judge John Mativo indicated that the money was clustered into 43 categories ranging from 1996-2004 styles.
In a reply to the court, Gunn stated: “My examination of the above 13,194 specimens determined that they are counterfeit because they do not contain authentic features that are found on the US 100 Federal Reserve Notes (1996 and 2004 style).”
Mr Gunn looked for nine features contained in a genuine US dollar note and his first feature in the checklist was red and blue fibres in the currency.
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The fake money in US dollar bills that was discovered at the Barclays Bank, Queensway branch
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Key security features
He looked at the Intaglio (raised) printing, typographic printing, security thread, watermark, colour shifting ink then microprinting.
The expert also checked two special features only in the 2004 style dollar - 3D security ribbon and a colour shifting bell in the Inkwell.
However, Eric Adede, the owner of the box held at Barclays Bank and which contained $20,067,900 accused the DCI of alleging the money is fake, a fact he said was untrue and meant to embarrass him.
