1st March, 2024
By Deborah Akpede
A couple, an ex-soldier and a printer, who allegedly specialised in producing fake currencies have been arrested in Lagos State.
The couple, aged 50 and 46; the ex-soldier, aged 62; and the printer aged 35, were paraded at the headquarters of Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, on Friday
Spokesperson of the Zone 2 Police Command, Tunni Ayiba paraded the suspects on behalf of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone, Mr Olatoye Durosinmi.
Ayuba said the printer was first to be arrested and he led the police to arrest of the couple and the ex-soldier.
“Based on intelligence report duly approved by the AIG, Zone 2 Command, the O/C Monitoring Unit, CSP Tijani Taofiq, detailed DSP Adeyemi and his team to discretely investigate,” she said.
She said that the team swung into action on Feb. 3, and invaded the hideout of the printer on Lagos Island and arrested him.
The spokesperson said that the police also confiscated a printing machine allegedly used by the printer in printing security threads on counterfeit currencies.
Ayuba added that the police recovered cash of 300 million CFA and nine million Naira, both suspected to be counterfeit, from the printer.
The spokesperson said that all the suspects confessed to various roles in the alleged crime.
According to Ayuba, the printer confessed to have been in currency counterfeiting for over three years and named those he supplied fake currencies for circulation.
“His confession led to the arrest of the couple, who are partners in the crime,” she said.
She said that the confessions of the couple led to the arrest of the ex-military personnel.
Ayuba said that during the ex-soldier’s arrest, his house and premises were searched, and some suspected counterfeit local and foreign currencies were recovered by the police.
According to her, efforts are being intensified to apprehend fleeing members of the syndicate. (NAN)