Five men were on Monday paraded by the Lagos State Police
Command for printing local and foreign currencies.
Command for printing local and foreign currencies.
Two of the suspects, Femi Jacob and Ramon Adeoye, were
arrested at Ogunlana Street, Alagbado with eight printing machines and a large
quantity of printed fake notes in Naira, Dollars, Pounds, Euros and Cedis
totalling N8m.
arrested at Ogunlana Street, Alagbado with eight printing machines and a large
quantity of printed fake notes in Naira, Dollars, Pounds, Euros and Cedis
totalling N8m.
Isaka Usman and Akeem Ayobado were also arrested at
Ikorodu with 14 printing machines, one cutting machine and N100m fake notes.
The fifth suspect, Onyeka Ibe, was allegedly an Anambra-based buyer, who
usually comes to Lagos to buy fake currencies.
Ikorodu with 14 printing machines, one cutting machine and N100m fake notes.
The fifth suspect, Onyeka Ibe, was allegedly an Anambra-based buyer, who
usually comes to Lagos to buy fake currencies.
The state Command’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar
Manko, said, “This syndicate has been in operation for over five years. Their
customers are spread across several African countries like the Republic of
Benin, Mali, Ghana, Togo, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Manko, said, “This syndicate has been in operation for over five years. Their
customers are spread across several African countries like the Republic of
Benin, Mali, Ghana, Togo, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
“The Officer-in-Charge of SARS, Superintendent of Police
Abba Kyari, got a tip-off about the operations of the syndicate some weeks ago
and mounted surveillance at Jacob’s Alagbado residence. It was Jacob’s
confessional statement after his arrest that led to the arrest of Ayodabo who
is the leader of the syndicate.
Abba Kyari, got a tip-off about the operations of the syndicate some weeks ago
and mounted surveillance at Jacob’s Alagbado residence. It was Jacob’s
confessional statement after his arrest that led to the arrest of Ayodabo who
is the leader of the syndicate.
“This case will eventually be handed over to operatives of
Interpol because of the negative implications the fake currencies outflow might
have had on the economies of the West African countries.”
Interpol because of the negative implications the fake currencies outflow might
have had on the economies of the West African countries.”
The CP said the cutting machine was owned by Ayodabo and
procured from the Republic of Benin
procured from the Republic of Benin
One of the suspects, Ibe said, “I often come down to
Oluwole Street in Lagos Island. That is where Ayodabo has his shop. I would
spend N5,000 to get currency worth N100,000. I usually buy currency worth
between N500,000 and N700,000.”
Oluwole Street in Lagos Island. That is where Ayodabo has his shop. I would
spend N5,000 to get currency worth N100,000. I usually buy currency worth
between N500,000 and N700,000.”
The fake notes which were on display during the parade
looked real enough to have kept the syndicate in business for five years with
customers spread across the continent.
looked real enough to have kept the syndicate in business for five years with
customers spread across the continent.
Adeoye told PUNCH METRO that he was arrested at Iyana
Ipaja, adding, “I am just an errand boy, my duty was to deliver fake currencies
to buyers. I was on my way to deliver fake notes worth N700,000 to one Ibrahim
when I was arrested.”
Ipaja, adding, “I am just an errand boy, my duty was to deliver fake currencies
to buyers. I was on my way to deliver fake notes worth N700,000 to one Ibrahim
when I was arrested.”
Source: Punch
