Police busts Gombe currency syndicates, recovers fake $56,300

• These groups, comprising a total of 16 individuals, specialized in producing and circulating counterfeit dollar and naira notes

The Gombe State Police Command made significant strides on Thursday by dismantling two currency syndicates. These groups, comprising a total of 16 individuals, specialized in producing and circulating counterfeit dollar and naira notes.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mahid Abubakar, reported the arrest of 12 suspects across Bajoga, Funakaye, and Dukku Local Government Areas. The first syndicate, consisting of six suspects, was apprehended with 500 pieces of fake 100-dollar bills, and N265,000 in counterfeit notes.

The breakthrough came after a suspect, Buba Muhammadu, attempted to purchase medicine with a fake N1,000 bill, leading to further investigations and subsequent arrests.

“Buba Muhammadu, 45 years, male; Jungudo Muhammadu, 53 years, male; Adamu Yusuf Mallum, 30 years; Abdulhamid Abdullahi, male 60 years; Salihu Abdulhamid, 50 years, male; Abubakar Abdullahi 35 years male,” Abubakar listed them.

He said the second syndicate, also made up of six suspects, was arrested in Malala Village, Dukku Local Government Area in possession of 63 pieces of counterfeit 100 US dollar notes.

Abubakar added, “Haruna Adamu aged 60 years male of Tanji Village Darazo LGA, Bauchi State; Garba Ibrahim aged 25 years, male of Hashidu, Dukku LGA, Gombe State; Samaila Musa aged 30 years male of Gombe Abba, Dukku LGA; Sa’adu Muhammed aged 23 years male of No.10 Badarawa Quarters, Kaduna State; Yusuf Abdullahi aged 30 years male of Gombe Abba, Dukku LGA; Muhammadu Umaru aged 26 years male of Gombe Abba, Dukku LGA. The suspects were arrested at Malala Village, Dukku LGA in possession of 63,000 pieces of 100 dollar notes.”

He said all the suspects had confessed to the crime and would be charged to court.

Abubakar urged the public in Gombe State to be more vigilant and report all cases to the appropriate authorities as opposed to taking the law into their own hands.