The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old man for manufacturing fake local and foreign currencies.
Rafiu Olusamokun and the fake currencies
A 42-year-old man, identified as Rafiu Olusamokun has been arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly producing fake foreign and local currencies.
It was gathered that Olusamokun, who is an indigene of Owo, Ondo State, was arrested by the police in his house at Ayidolapo Street, in the Ikotun area of the state.
Punch Metro gathered that the suspect, who was a motor mechanic before allegedly venturing into production of fake currencies, worked with some people who were still at large.
The police was said to have recovered an iron box full of fake dollars, pounds and naira notes from Olusamokun. Some materials such as cotton wool, paints and oil, allegedly used in the production of the money, were also recovered by the police.
The suspect said he was introduced into the business by some men who claimed to have newly returned from Europe.
He said, “I met those people early this year. I was working as a motor mechanic, and I just ran into them. They said they recently returned from Europe. When I visited them at a hotel in the Bar Beach, Victoria Island area, they brought out the samples of the currencies they had, and said I could produce same if I wanted to become wealthy.
“I was immediately interested. A friend, Sule Sulaimon, who went with me, also became interested. Their leader said all I needed to do was to purchase the chemicals from them. He said I should bring N1m, but I eventually paid N650,000 for the chemicals.
A police source said that Olusamokun was to give part of the money reproduced to the syndicate, so that he could be given more materials. He added that the police were still on the trail of the group.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were over.