A Nottingham taxi journey ended at a police station after the driver was handed counterfeit cash, according to Nottinghamshire Police.
The force said the passenger booked a trip from Nottingham Road at around 11.30pm on Tuesday 13 October. Repeated changes to the route prompted the driver to ask how the fare would be paid.
Fake £20 note raised suspicions
Police said the driver recognised a £20 note as counterfeit from its feel. When challenged, the passenger produced more notes which were also fake.
The driver then took the passenger to Radford Road police station. A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of using counterfeit currency and possessing an offensive weapon in a private place.
Officers search address
During a subsequent search of the man's address, officers reported finding a Rambo-style knife beneath a mattress and seizing cannabis cultivation equipment. No further counterfeit cash was recovered.
Neighbourhood Inspector Liz Gaskin praised the driver's actions. The police statement reported an arrest, not a conviction.
Sources: Nottinghamshire Police, 15 October 2026; BBC News report by Asha Patel.
Image: AI-generated Fare101 illustration, not a photograph of the incident.