The Police in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Customs Service have arrested nine suspected illegal forex hawkers in Kano.
The arrest was made following a raid of Wappa Bureau De Change, Fagge LGA, Behind CBN Office, Nassarawa LGA, Central Hotel, Bompai Road, Nassarawa LGA, Ashton Road, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kofar Ruwa Motor Park, Dawanau International Grains Market, Dawakin Tofa LGA.
Spokesman of the Kano police command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa who confirmed the arrest said the essence of the operation was to arrest those elements in order to stabilise the foreign exchange market in the country.
He added that the objective was not to arrest genuine Bureau de Change operators who carry on their legitimate businesses in their offices.
According to him “a total of thirty-one (31) people were arrested out of which twenty-two (22) were screened out for lack of evidence, while nine (9) were arrested with the following exhibits recovered; (1) Thirty-Eight USD ($38:00), (2) One Hundred and Thirteen (CFA 113:00) Nigerien Currency, (3) Four Thousand Eight Hundred and Ten (Cairos 4,810:00) Egyptian Pound, (4) Two Hundred (Birr 200:00) Ethiopian Currency, (5) One (1) POS Machine, and (6) Two Mobile Phone Devices (Infinix Android & Techno Keypad).”
The state Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel also advised all individuals and business operators within the financial sector to operate within the confines of the law and obtain the necessary licenses.
