By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos
Nemesis has caught up with a syndicate that specialises in the printing, sales and distribution of fake US Dollar notes, as the gang was smashed by operatives attached to the Special Intelligence Squad of the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory.
Two members of the syndicate, identified as Ya’u Muhammed, 65 years and Lamido Usman, 29yrs were said to have been arrested, with the sum of $15,400 fake and $100 original US Dollar notes recovered from them.
Our correspondent gathered that the syndicate have been operating for the past 10 years around Mararaba under bridge, by HEART PLAZA, Karu Local Government district of Nasarawa State before luck ran out of them.
The NSCDC Director of Public Relations, DCC Olusola Odumosu confirmed the report in a statement on Monday.
The statement reads, ” Acting on credible intelligence, the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) smashed a notorious fake dollars syndicate that specialises in printing, sales and distribution of fake US Dollar notes.
” According to intelligence reports, the syndicate have been operating for the past 10years around Mararaba under bridge, by HEART PLAZA, Karu Local Government district of Nasarawa State before luck ran out of them.
” The report also revealed that they have swindled and defrauded many individuals, millions of naira under the guise of black market operators exchanging Nigerian naira to US Dollars thereby issuing fake dollar notes to their unsuspecting victims.
” In a clandestine operation carried out by the CG’S SIS Squad, the suspects were smoked out of their hideout and subsequently arrested using the sum of N250,000 to disguise in exchange for US dollars.
” Two members of the syndicate arrested were found in possession of a total of $15,400 fake US Dollars, they are Ya’u Muhammed ‘M’, 65 years old, from Bauchi State, Warji LGA and Lamido Usman ‘M’ age 29yrs, from Taraba state La’u LGA.
” Other items recovered from the suspects includes, One (1) First Bank ATM card, One (1), screw driver and original $100 dollar note.
” The suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigation after which they would be handed over alongside the exhibits to NSCDC Nasarawa State Command under whose jurisdiction the arrest took place for further action”.
