Police arrest driver with N1m fake currency in Ibadan

The operatives of the Oyo State Police Command have arrested a male driver, (name withheld), allegedly in possession of N1,000,000 fake currency in Ibadan, the state capital.

The Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Osifeso stated that the driver was arrested by the command’s Federal Highway Patrol Team during a stop-and-search operation on Friday, August 29.

The arrest, he said, was made around the Guru Maharaj Ji area of the Ibadan-Lagos Expressway at about 8:45 p.m.

Osifeso said the driver, on his way to Osogbo in Osun State, was driving a green Sienna vehicle.

He stated that the suspicious character of the driver prompted police officers to conduct a thorough search of his vehicle.

The police spokesman said: “During the investigation, officers discovered approximately N1,000,000 in banknotes of N1,000 denomination.

“The notes bore only three unique serial numbers: 235923 – N500,000 (500 notes); 235922- N300,000 (300 notes); and 235921- N200,000 (200 notes), all concealed in a transparent plastic parcel secured with ample tape.

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“Upon questioning, the suspect, a male, indicated that he was acting as a courier, having received the cash from an unidentified individual in Ojota, Lagos State.”

According to Osifeso, the driver stated that he was instructed to deliver the money to Osogbo but that he had not been given the recipient’s name or contact details.

Osifeso said the suspect claimed the person who gave him the package told him it contained body cream.

Osifeso pledged the command’s commitment to combating currency counterfeiting and other financial crimes jeopardising the nation’s economy and community safety.

He said further investigations would continue on the matter, adding that updates would be communicated to the public.

“We urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the appropriate channels,” the police spokesman said.

The Star