ONDO POLICE UNCOVER SUSPECTED FAKE DOLLAR FACTORY, ARREST ONE

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a suspected counterfeit currency production site in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, arresting one suspect and recovering three bags of suspected fake United States dollar notes.

The operation was carried out on October 29 at Kiniso Village, via Ajue, following an investigation into a complaint by a man who allegedly received counterfeit dollars during a currency exchange transaction.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the complainant, identified as Yusuf Nasiru, reported to the police on October 28 that two men, Peter Desmond and Olami Toro, both residents of Ode-Irele, approached him at his shop on October 25 to exchange US dollars for their naira equivalent.

Jimoh said Nasiru handed over $6,000, valued at approximately N8.6m, to the men.

“However, while waiting to receive the naira equivalent, the suspects allegedly returned the dollars to him, claiming that they did not have sufficient funds to complete the transaction, and subsequently left,” the statement read.

The complainant later discovered that the dollar notes returned to him were counterfeit, prompting him to report the incident to the police.

The statement said operatives from the Okitipupa Divisional Headquarters immediately commenced discreet investigations and, through intelligence gathering and technical tracking, traced Desmond to Kiniso Village.

Acting on information from members of the community, the operatives raided the suspected hideout on October 29.

“One suspect was arrested, while other occupants of the premises reportedly escaped through the perimeter fence,” the statement added.

A search of the property led to the recovery of three bags containing suspected counterfeit US dollar notes and a small wooden box, which were taken into police custody as exhibits.

Jimoh said the arrested suspect had provided useful information to assist the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Felix Ohagwu, has directed that the investigation be intensified to identify and arrest other persons allegedly connected to the operation.

The command said the investigation would also establish the extent of the suspected counterfeit currency network and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.

It cautioned members of the public against engaging in suspicious foreign currency transactions with unverified individuals or accepting attractive exchange offers outside recognised and authorised channels.

Residents were also advised to authenticate foreign currencies before accepting them in financial transactions and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.

The command reaffirmed its commitment to combating financial and other forms of criminality in the state.