Police in Lira City have arrested four suspects in connection to fake US Dollars valued at 9 million (approximately 33,750,000,000 Uganda shillings).
The suspects Siwa Tony, Apio Lucky, Wengo Nighty, a businesswoman and her sister identified only as Sandra.
Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga police spokesperson says that the suspects were arrested during an operation yesterday in Ireda Shamba Cell, Lira City East Division.
Okema says that police acted on an intelligence report regarding the existence of a machine used to produce fake currency at the residence of Wengo Nighty.
He says the money was being kept in a safe in a room occupied by Sandra.
Sandra reportedly told police during interrogation that the safe was brought to her by Apio Lucky, a maid who also resides at Wengo’s home.
A further search of the house led to the recovery of several motor vehicle logbooks and several fake 100 US dollar notes.
Okema says that Wengo revealed that the safe had been delivered to her residence by Siwa Tony, who is currently in custody at Lira City Central Police Station on allegations of obtaining money by false pretense.
Preliminary investigations reveal that Siwa and Wengo are part of a wider network, with associates in Soroti City dealing in fake currency for an extended period of time.
Justine Muboka
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