The National Security Agency has arrested a 13-member group that was printing and distributing counterfeit currency notes to innocent victims, most of whom were foreign nationals.
The gang, led by Yassei Alia, a 45-year-old Syrian resident of East Legon and owner of Hardford Auto Service in Accra, and Danjuma Zakaria alias Alhaji Mohammed, 49, of Tema West, were apprehended in a warehouse inside the premises of NacCharter Cargo and Freight Company, near Kwese, according to a statement released by the National Security Secretariat and copied to the Ghana News Agency.
The factory was raided and $10,000 worth of bogus $100 bills were discovered hidden between two big metal trunks and a suitcase.
The figure was reported to be over $5 million, according to the release.
Esther Omozeea, Emad Aldalhi, Kamal Mohammed, Abdulai Yakubu Osman, and Samuel Ababio were among the suspects detained during the operation
John Denyo, Desmond Delali Dumenu, Alike Happiness, Prosper Chukwu, Victor Israel, and Padi Christian Holdbrook are the remaining members.
Yassei and Mohammed, who travelled to the warehouse in the former’s vehicle, denied awareness of the offer in their warning comments, according to the study.
It noted that, however, when questioned separately, Yassei, who held a Syrian passport, a Guinea-Bissau diplomatic passport and a Nigerian national driver’s licence issued in Ogun State, indicated that he had gone to the warehouse to have a discussion with one Kojo, an alleged cargo dealer and operator of the premises, regarding a V8 engine the latter was to import on his behalf, while Alhaji Mohammed stated that he had gone to solicit for financial help from Kojo to enable him to procure a vehicle from Holland.
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According to the statement, while Yassei said Kojo sat in a meeting with them on that day, Alhaji Mohammed stated that Kojo was not at the premises at the time of their visit and that they were detained while waiting for him.
Two of the suspects interrogated separately verified Mohammed’s argument that Kojo was not seen at the premises on the day in question, according to the report.
“According to information, the group’s modus operandi means that they trap naive victims with promises of having access to millions of dollars in Libya,” the statement stated.
“As evidence of the deal’s genuineness, victims are granted real amounts of US dollars to use for free.”
It was stated that after victims were persuaded, they were asked to deposit large amounts of USD dollars as freight charges to help in the shipping of the said dollars to the victims.
It was stated that upon receipt of the number, the perpetrators package fake dollars hidden within hundreds of legitimate notes for distribution to their victims.
It was stated that shortly after the detention, one Bandoh, Alhaji-Ahmed, alias Alhaji Bamed, owner of Bamed Travel and Tours and a client of Yassie, drove to the National Security headquarters, verbally assaulted the operation’s chief, and vowed to release the suspects.
It claimed that Alhaji Bamed’s aggressive behavior meant he was involved in the transaction, particularly because the investigation was still underway.
It said National Security officials had told Ghanaians that the government was committed to ridding the country of fake currency syndicates, and that those involved in the illegality would be arrested and prosecuted.
As a result, the National Security Council has encouraged the public to disclose irregular activity to security forces in order to assist in their detention and prosecution.
Meanwhile, the inquiry is also ongoing.
Source: JOYNEWSROOM
