Police seize ₦129.5b counterfeit currencies

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has recovered ₦129.5 billion in fake naira and foreign currencies during an operation in Kano State.

Police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the operations in a statement on Tuesday.

Adejobi said the recovery of counterfeit currencies occurred on December 8 in Gwale, Kano State, where operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted Nura Ibrahim.

“Recently, in Kano, the police successfully recovered the sum of ₦129,542,823,000 in counterfeit currencies, with a breakdown of 3,366,000 counterfeit US dollars, 51,970 counterfeit CFA francs, and 1,443,000 counterfeit naira,” Adejobi said.

Adejobi noted that the police operatives, acting on credible intelligence, accosted one Nura Ibrahim (male) and, upon conducting a search, discovered ₦392,000 in counterfeit notes, USD7,800 in counterfeit notes, and five different ATM cards.

“Further investigation led to the arrest of his accomplices, Muhammed Muntari (male) and Usman Abdullahi (male), as well as the recovery of the other counterfeit currencies,” he added.

In related developments, the police also arrested three suspected gunrunners on December 9 along the Kaduna-Kano Expressway.

The suspected gunrunners were identified as Buhari Suleiman (male), Jamil Yakubu (male), and Aliyu Abdullahi (male).

He said, “The suspects were apprehended after the police operatives noticed their suspicious activities and approached them to question them. A subsequent search was conducted, which led to the recovery of 216 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and one round of AK-47 ammunition.”

Adejobi also disclosed that on December 8, police operatives in Kebbi State rescued 36 victims of kidnapping along Mairairai/Bena Road in Danko/Wasagu LGA who were returning from their respective farms.