Rivers Police, CBN, DSS arrest currency printers

-Spraying naira notes at events, soiling and writing on them are serious offences against the Nigerian currency.

Rivers Police, CBN, DSS arrest currency printers

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in a joint operation with the Rivers State Police Command has  on Wednesday, arrested thirteen female suspects for allegedly being involved in illegal printing and minting of the Nigerian currency.

The state Police Command revealed the arrest during a media briefing in Port Harcourt while talking on being on the trail of  individuals who allegedly carry out unlawful businesses.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Zaki, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the suspects were arrested at Garrison, Rumuokoro, Waterlines and Eleme areas of Rivers.

The operation was in accordance with the CBN’s Act, Section 20 and 21 which stipulates that it is an offence punishable by term of imprisonment for any person to falsify, hawk, sell or trade, make or counterfeit any bank note of coin which is a legal tender in the country.

Omoni said: “In the operation, thirteen suspects, all women, were arrested in different parts of Port Harcourt and are currently held in State CID, Port Harcourt, helping the police in investigation. At the end, those found culpable will face justice.

“On the whole, a total of ₦2,937,430.00, consisting of various denomination were recovered from the suspects. As already mentioned, investigation is on to ascertain the source of the new naira notes.”

Omoni, however, stated that the war against illegal businesses would be a continuous operation, warning that the act of spraying naira notes at events, soiling and writing on them are serious offences against the legal tender.

The CBN in a drive to stop illicit sale of the naira notes had partnered with the operatives of the state police command and Department of the State Service to clamp down illegal naira vendors in Rivers State.