Police Bust Fake Dollar Factory in Ondo, Recover 3 Bags of Fake Notes
The Ondo State Police Command has busted a suspected fake dollar factory in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
One suspect was arrested during the operation, while three bags of suspected counterfeit US dollar notes were recovered.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
He said the operation took place on October 29 at Kiniso Village, via Ajue, following a complaint by a businessman, Yusuf Nasiru.
According to the police, Nasiru reported that two men — Peter Desmond and Olami Toro, both of Ode-Irele — approached his shop on October 25 to exchange dollars for naira.
He said he gave them $6,000, valued at about N8.6 million, for exchange, but the men returned the dollars claiming they had no sufficient funds and left.
The complainant later discovered the returned notes were counterfeit.
“Through intelligence gathering and technical tracking, operatives from Okitipupa Division traced one of the suspects, Peter Desmond, to Kiniso Village,” Jimoh said.
He said operatives raided the hideout, arrested one suspect while others escaped through the perimeter fence, and recovered the fake notes and a small wooden box as exhibits.
“The arrested suspect has given useful information that is assisting investigation,” he added.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, has ordered an intensified investigation to arrest other members of the syndicate and dismantle the network.
The Command urged reside
nts to avoid foreign currency deals with unverified persons and report suspicious transactions to the nearest police station.
