The Police Command in Oyo State has confirmed the arrest of a male driver, (name withheld), who was allegedly caught with N1,000,000 in fake currency.
This information was made public by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Adewale Osifeso, through a statement released in Ibadan on Saturday.
As stated by Osifeso, the suspect was arrested by the command’s Federal Highway Patrol Team during a stop-and-search operation on Friday.
He disclosed that the arrest was made around 8:45 p.m. in the Guru Maharaj Ji area of the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway.
The driver, traveling to Osogbo, was driving a green Sienna vehicle with registration number Lagos FKJ 443 YG.
According to him, the driver’s suspicious conduct led the officers to conduct a comprehensive search of his vehicle.
“During the investigation, officers discovered approximately ₦1,000,000 in banknotes of N1,000 denomination.
“The notes bore only three unique serial numbers: 235923 – N500,000 (500 notes); 235922- N300,000 (300 notes); and 235921- N200,000 (200 notes), all concealed in a transparent plastic parcel secured with ample tape.
“Upon questioning, the suspect, a male, indicated that he was acting as a courier, having received the cash from an unidentified individual in Ojota, Lagos,” he said.
Osifeso reported that the suspect claimed to have received instructions to deliver the funds to Osogbo, but was not provided with the recipient’s name or contact details.
The PPRO noted that the suspect alleged the person who gave him the package stated it contained body cream.
Osifeso reiterated the command’s commitment to addressing currency counterfeiting and other financial crimes that compromise the nation’s economy and community safety. He stated that additional investigations would ensue, with updates to be shared with the public.
“We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate channels,” he said.
