Operatives of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos, have arrested a couple, an ex-military personnel and a printer, who allegedly specialise in producing fake currencies.

The zonal public relations officer, SP Tunni Ayuba, said the arrest of the printer,35, led to the arrest of the couple aged 50 and 46 and the ex-soldier, 62.

“Based on an intelligence report duly approved by the AIG, Zone 2 Command, the O/C Monitoring Unit, CSP Tijani Taofiq, detailed DSP Adeyemi and his team to discretely investigate,” she said.

She said the team swung into action on February 3, invaded the hideout of the printer on the Lagos Island, and arrested him.

The spokesperson said the police also confiscated a printing machine allegedly used to print security threads on counterfeit currencies.

Mr Ayuba added that the police recovered cash worth 300 million CFA and N9 million, both suspected to be counterfeit, from the printer.

The spokesperson said all the suspects confessed to various roles in the alleged crime.

According to Mr Ayuba, the printer confessed to having been involved in currency counterfeiting for over three years and named those to whom he supplied fake currencies for circulation.

“His confession led to the arrest of the couple, who are partners in the crime,” she said.

She said the confessions of the couple led to the arrest of the ex-military personnel.

Mr Ayuba said that during the ex-soldier’s arrest, his house and premises were searched, and the police recovered some suspected counterfeit local and foreign currencies.

According to her, efforts are being intensified to apprehend fleeing members of the syndicate.

(NAN)