Posted by By OLUWATOYOSI OGUNSEYE on
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three young men for the alleged involvement in currency trafficking.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three young men for the alleged involvement in currency trafficking.
Ejiwunmi Oluwutoba Samuel Basile, Morankiyo Adekunle and Adewale Tunbosun were earlier arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Idiroko border as they were attempting to cross over to Republic of Benin.
When the suspects were searched, various fake foreign cheques worth 136,150 dollars, and 50 similar blank cheques were found in Ejiwunmi's possession. Fake United States of America (USA) money orders worth 64,500 dollars were also found on Adekunle and Adewale.
The trio, however, claimed that they were given the envelopes by a man they met in a cyber café to deliver to somebody. A source at the EFCC, however, said that investigations were going on the authenticity or otherwise of their claims.
He said: 'On the 26th of October, 2006, three of them were trying to cross the border before they were intercepted by the operatives of the NDLEA. Ejiwunmi had 17 cheques that were addressed to respective payees in the USA. He wanted to post the cheques in the Republic of Benin because it would be difficult to post the money from Nigeria.
He also had in his possession 50 blank cheques that were suspected to be fake. He also said that he was promised N2,000 after delivering the parcel.
The source added that the suspects were sending the money to their unsuspecting victims abroad.
'Often, suspects would order for goods through the internet and promise to pay for the products by cheque.
Instead of sending original money order, they would print fake ones in Lagos and send same through a neighbouring country. The receivers would have sent the goods before realizing that the cheques are dud."
The other suspects, Adekunle, 27, and Adewale, 21, also claimed that an anonymous person gave them the money orders to post for him. The source said: 'Both friends were in illegal possession of USA Money Orders suspected to be fake.
The money orders were put in 23 brown envelopes, addressed to various persons in USA. Five thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars was also found in their possession. They claimed that the money was meant for the posting of the money order. We are still investigating them.ensure that we arrest their cohorts," he said.