KHUJAND, February 18, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A consignment of counterfeit Russian ruble (RR) has been discovered in the Sughd province.

According to the Sughd police directorate, resident of the Konibodom district Sulton Qosimvo was detained in the Bobojonoghafurov and a consignment of fake RR banknotes, totaling 9,000 Russian rubles, was confiscated from him.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Qosimov and an investigation is under way.

In the meantime, Russian media reported at the end of last year that the volume of Russian counterfeit ruble banknotes in circulation is increasing in the Russian Federation.  According to RIA Novosti, the volume of Russian counterfeit ruble bills in circulation increased by 9% in the third quarter of 2008 against the same period of 2007.  Russian banks confiscated a total of 31,225 forged ruble bills in the period between July and September 2008.  The first quarter of 2008 saw a 12.6% increase in counterfeit rubles, however, the second quarter saw a sharp increase of 42% against similar periods last year.

Russian central bank said that with nearly 30,000 forged bills seized in the third quarter of 2008, the 1,000-ruble note is the most preferred banknote by counterfeiters.