EFCC, JTF arrest 115 suspected currency racketeers in Enugu, recover N110m, $8,368

Stanley Ihedigbo

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in conjunction with a Joint Task Force comprising five teams from the Nigeria Police Force and three teams from the Nigeria Customs Service arrested 115 suspected currency racketeers in Enugu State.

The suspects comprising 113  males and two  females were arrested  in a sting operation at Owerri Road, Ogui, Enugu State, following credible intelligence about some  bureau de change operators, currency speculators and street hawkers operating illegal foreign exchange markets in that environment.

Items recovered from them include:  N110, 700,000.00, $8,368.00, £145.00, €2,725, 900 South African Rands, 32,000.00 CFA, 100 Turkiya, and 500 Bank Mozambique currencies in different denominations.

A safe abandoned by one of the street hawkers was also recovered and preliminary investigation showed that some of the suspects are foreigners from Niger Republic.

They would soon be charged to court.