OPERATIVES of the Zone 2 Police Command, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, have arrested a 4-man syndicate of money counterfeiters, who specialize in remodeling naira, pound, dollar and CFA notes.
Parading the suspects of three men and a woman before members of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) and other media on Friday at the Zonal headquarters in Onikan, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Zone, AIG Olatoye Durosinmi, revealed the members of the gang were nabbed after a team of operatives, led by DSP Adeyemi Akeem, acting on credible information, investigated and swooped on the hideout of one Adeniyi Quadri, a 35-year-old male, who specializes in counterfeiting different currencies and supplying same to his allies, spread at different locations, including Cameroon, at No. 11 Alof street, Lagos Island.
The arrest of Quadri, according to the AIG, led to the arrest of the others including Oludare Olamilekan, 50, his wife, Oludare Oluwayemisi, 46, and Ilelabayo Johnson, who is 62 years, and recovery of exhibits including one currency printing machine, one hundred and eighty million Cameroun CFA, suspected to be counterfeit, fake nine million Naira in one thousand naira denominations and other currencies worth millions, and also suspected to be counterfeited.
Speaking to the media, Quadri, who was filled with remorse, confessed to have been in the business of currency counterfeiting for over three years. While Quadri’s confession led to the arrest the couple, the couple’s confession led to the arrest of Ilelabayo Johnson, an ex-military personnel who resides at No.3 Ilelabayo close, Isoto via Ajasa Compound, Lagos State.
The AIG revealed that during his arrest, his house and premises were searched and some suspected counterfeit local and foreign currencies were recovered in his possession. All the arrested suspects confessed to various roles in the process of committing this offence.
He informed that efforts are being intensified to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate, and warned criminals to desist from crime because they will be caught.
