Metro

NJ man who tried to smuggle $23K in phony hundred dollar bills into U.S. turned over to feds

A New Jersey man is in hot water after he was caught trying to smuggle $23,000 in phony hundred dollar bills into the country, authorities said.

Fred Moloche, 34, had just returned from a trip to Peru when customs officials found the counterfeit cash in a bag at around 1 p.m. yesterday.

Suspicious customs agents flagged down Port Authority cops who then cuffed Moloche, law enforcement sources said.

After the the currency was confirmed fake, Moloche was charged with first-degree forgery, authorities said. He is currently awaiting arraignment.