Kolkata, May 7 (IANS): The BSF has seized fake Indian currency notes (FICN) of face value in excess of Rs.64 lakh, and apprehended a man from near the Bangladesh border in West Bengal's Malda district.

The arrest and the seizure was made late on Wednesday night during a special operation near the Daulatpur border outpost.

"A special operation team headed by assistant commandant Anoop Kumar ambushed a gang of smugglers after they entered the Indian side of the border from Bangladesh. While most of the miscreants managed to escape, the BSF team managed to apprehend one of them," Border Security Force deputy commandant Ajay Kumar said.

"From his possession, FICNs of the face value of Rs.64,65,000 was seized from him. This is the highest seizure of fake notes in single operation by the BSF in the eastern theater," the officer added.

The accused - identified as 22-year-old Barkat Ali -- has been handed over to police.

The BSF has seized Rs.1.12 crore in FICN so far this year.