Kumasi police seize large quantity fake currency

The Kumasi Police have seized large quantities of fake local and foreign currencies in 2,000 and 5,000 cedi denominations, CFA francs and dollars used in duping people.

One person Kwadwo Asem, 26, who hails from Agogo in the Asante-Akim North district and a chainsaw operator, who was arrested in one of the operations, is assisting the police in their investigations. A neighbourhood watch committee arrested one other person whose name was not given, while three men and a woman, who duped two businessmen of 10,750 dollars, are on the run. Addressing a press conference in Kumasi on the operations of the fake currency syndicate, Dr Kofi Kesse Manfo, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, warned the public to be wary of the tricksters. He said that the tricksters approach the rich and ask for small amounts of cedis or foreign money in return for more, which finally turn out to be counterfeit. Dr Manfo said some of them ask for money to buy chemicals to wash supposedly not fully processed foreign money, which they promise to give to their victims after processing but which turn out to be fake.

Recounting the various operations, the Police Commander said the police on patrol on June 23 at Santasi roundabout intercepted a taxicab, which was carrying four people. During a search on the vehicle, 18 bundles of 2,000 cedi-notes mixed with papers cut to the size of the currency note with a total value of 18 million cedis were found under the seats. Dr Manfo said one of the passengers came down with the intent of urinating and bolted while the remaining three were arrested and during interrogation claimed the fake currency belonged to the one who escaped. He said the three were put before a Kumasi circuit tribunal where they were granted bail while the police are looking for fourth person, who bolted. The Regional Police Commander said last week, the Zongo police had information that some tricksters were defrauding people in the metropolis under the pretext of doubling money for them. He said the police, therefore, engaged informants to contact the suspects, who used only mobile phones. The suspects asked the informants to give them five million cedis for 15 million cedis, which the police gave the informants. Dr Manfo said the tricksters then asked the informants to meet them at a hotel and so detectives were detailed to monitor and mount surveillance in the area and succeeded in arresting one of the tricksters while the second one managed to escape. He said in April this year, four men and a girl succeeded in tricking two businessmen to part with 10,750 dollars. They were able to convince them that they had come from Sierra Leone and wanted assistance to bring down their father's legacy including a large sum of money he earned while working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Regional Police Commander said the tricksters vanished with the money. When the businessmen went to the hotel where they lodged, they found a box, which they forced open and found white papers which were flanked with fake five, 10 and 20 dollar notes and made a report to the police.

Dr Manfo said in October last year, the tricksters succeeded in duping a coffee purchasing clerk to the tune of 15 million cedis, which was the money given to him to purchase coffee for his company. He said such syndicates were operating in the region particularly, in Kumasi, and advised the public to be wary of them and not to be swayed by the sweet offers.