Forex Dealers Cry Out Over Fake Dollars!

Air travellers and other airport users have been alerted about the circulation of fake United States dollars at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

Bureau de Change operators at the  airport have cried out against the circulation of the currency and millions of dollars exchange for the Naira every day at the airport.
Reacting to the arrest of two ladies caught with over 2000 fake dollars at the Hajj camp of the Bureau de change office, the Chairman of Hajj Camp Forex Exchange Market, Arewa Complex, Mr. Abubakar Usman said the trend had become a source of worry to them.
According to Usman, the two ladies in their late 20s were apprehended while trying to exchange fake dollars for Naira.
Usman noted that members of the association have lost millions of naira to fraudsters as a result of fake foreign currencies . He warned that anyone caught will be handed over to the law enforcement agents for prosecution.
He said the ugly trend had adversely affected their goodwill and reduced the trust their customers have for them. He added that every month, about 12 suspects  were  apprehended for similar offences.
Usman recalled with sorrow how some of their members were killed by fraudsters after inviting them to hotels to exchange money and vowed that none of their members will do any transaction in hotels, eateries and other public places anymore.
He lamented that some military personnel were in the habit of defending some of these fraudsters when they were arrested, noting that it took the intervention of Operation MESA  to get one of the suspects arrested and taken to the police station.
He said henceforth any officer caught encouraging the release of suspect would be reported to the appropriate authorities for discipline.
Usman warned that the incident of fake foreign currencies has dented the image of the country as it also affected foreigners.
When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Hajj camp police station was not readily available for comment but a senior police officer confirmed the arrest of the two suspects.
SOURCE