Somaliland police bust Nigerian counterfeit ring

Authorities in Somaliland collared a criminal network involved in making counterfeit money on Wednesday.

During a press conference in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s Immigration Forces said that a total of 6 people were arrested. Five of the six men were from Nigeria, and the last man is believed to be from Somalia.

The Commander of the Immigration Force, Brigadier General Mohamed Alin (Dayib), said that men were found with a host of counterfeiting materials.

“Immigration forces caught the foreigners with assistance from the police and the Bank of Somaliland. They were in possession of paper for making money, chemicals, paper cutting, labelling, and chalk. Herbal and liquid medications, as well as other devices to aid their crime,” the commander said.

The men were also carrying several mobile phones and fake United Nations employee badges.

Immigration officials said that the men arrived through Hargeisa’s international airport and the land border with Ethiopia.

The former Governor of the Central Bank of Somaliland, Ali Ibrahim Jama (Baghdadi), said that the men were apprehended before they could begin producing counterfeit currency.

“These men are part of a well-organized criminal network that was working to destabilize the country’s economy. They had all the necessary chemicals and paper to carry out their work, and they were looking for a considerable sum of money, but we thwarted their attempt. I can confirm that these men did not introduce any fake currency into the economy.

The men are expected to make their first court appearance within 48 hours.