Six suspected money traders have been apprehended by security operatives in Port Harcourt.
This was disclosed by the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Michael Oga, during a press conference in Rivers on Friday.
According to him, the suspects were arrested in a joint operation involving NSCDC, Department of State Security and Central Bank of Nigeria.
“The suspects, five females and one male, aged between 20 years and 58 years old were picked up from their tents around Garrison and Mile One Park in Port Harcourt.
“The sting operation carried out by NSCDC, DSS and CBN is aimed at forestalling illicit sales of the nation’s currency notes, the naira.
“A total sum of N1.779 million in various denominations were recovered from the suspects – with investigation partly focusing on the source of the mint notes,” he said.
Ogar stated that selling and hawking naira notes, as well as writing, squeezing, and spraying naira notes at both social and business ceremonies, were illegal and subject to punishment.
“This practice contravenes Section 20 and 21 of the CBN Act 2007 that prescribes punishment for any person or group of persons who buy, sell and trade the naira currency.
“We will continue the clampdown of perpetrators of this offence which attracts a minimum six months jail time or a fine of not less than N50,000 or both.
“It is a crime for people to go to the banks; collect mints, and then come out and sell those mints to Nigerians,” he added.
