In its fight against illegal Bureau de Change (BDC) operations and currency racketeering, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the convictions of 23 offenders and arrested 170 suspects within the last month, News About Nigeria reports.
According to a document titled ‘EFCC Alert’ sanctioned by the commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, on Tuesday, the EFCC’s Special Task Force made substantial progress since its formation on February 7, 2024.
During a massive clampdown in Enugu State, the EFCC arrested 116 illegal BDC operators, currency racketeers, and street hawkers involved in illegal foreign exchange markets.
The operation led to the recovery of N110.7 million, $8,368.00, £145.00, €2,725, 900 South African Rand, 32,000.00 CFA, 100 Turkiya, and 500 Bank Mozambique currencies.
Furthermore, the document revealed that international law enforcement agencies, including the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the governments of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and Kenya, are assisting in the extradition of a Binance Holding Limited executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, over an alleged $35.4 million money laundering probe.
Olukoyede commended the efforts of the EFCC Special Task Force, stating that the convictions secured and arrests made are evidence of the commission’s hard work and dedication.
He disclosed that 11 of the convictions were recorded in Kano, three in Ilorin, five in Lagos, one in Port Harcourt, and three in Kaduna.
Currently, 170 suspects are facing prosecution for similar offences across eight EFCC zonal offices, including Kano, Ibadan, Enugu, Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Uyo, and Maiduguri.
“Some of the suspects are foreigners from neighbouring countries. It is cheerless that whereas denominating service charges and prices in currencies other than the naira, as well as naira mutilation and offering it for sale, are designated as offences in the country, enforcement has been lax until the EFCC under Olukoyede took up the gauntlet,” the statement read.
