Police in Oyo State have arrested a commercial driver found with fake naira notes worth about N1 million during a stop-and-search operation on the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway.
The suspect, identified as Akande, was driving a green Toyota Sienna with registration number Lagos FKJ 443 YG when he was flagged down by the Federal Highway Patrol team near the Guru Maharaj area.
According to the police, Akande appeared uneasy when officers approached the vehicle, prompting a thorough search. Bundles of counterfeit N1,000 notes, neatly sealed inside a plastic parcel, were discovered.
The fake notes carried three serial numbers: 235923 for N500,000, 235922 for N300,000, and 235921 for N200,000.
During interrogation, Akande admitted he was acting as a courier. He told the police he collected the parcel from someone in Ojota, Lagos, and was on his way to Osogbo to deliver it.
“I was told the parcel contained body cream,” Akande reportedly said. “I don’t know the person I was supposed to deliver it to.”
The Oyo State Police Command said investigations are ongoing to trace the source and intended recipient of the fake money.
The police assured the public that they are intensifying efforts to curb the circulation of counterfeit currency, warning that such activities threaten Nigeria’s financial system.
Citizens have also been urged to stay alert and report suspicious activities to security agencies.
