Police nab ‘fake currency syndicate’ in Nasarawa

The Nasarawa police command says it has arrested a seven-member syndicate suspected to be dealing in fake currencies.

Bola Longe, the state commissioner of police, said the gang was arrested in Lafia with N7.8 million and $110,000 counterfeit currencies.

The suspects were paraded on Friday alongside 61 others for various criminal offences.

Longe said two of the suspects were arrested on June 4 when they attempted to pay some money into an account using point of sale (PoS) located around the College of Agriculture in Lafia.

According to the police commissioner, a student of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and one other, went to deposit N50,000 at the POS when the agent discovered some of the notes to be fake.

He said that the suspect insisted that she must accept the money which resulted in an altercation which made her seek police intervention.

Upon receipt of the Information, police personnel attached to area command, Lafia moved immediately to the scene and got the suspect arrested,” he said.

Longe added that further investigation led to the arrest of five more suspects and N7.8 million counterfeit currency in N1,000 denomination, and $110,000 counterfeit notes in $100 bills were recovered as exhibits.

He said the counterfeit currencies recovered had been taken to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for further investigation.

He said all the suspects would be prosecuted as soon as investigations were concluded.

Longe appealed to the public for continuous collaboration with the police through useful information so as to rid the state of criminal elements.