The Department of State Services (DSS) says the agency has intercepted an undisclosed number of persons involved in the sale of the new N1,000, N500 and N200 naira notes.
This comes barely 24 hours after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced the extension of the deadline for the swap of old naira notes at commercial banks by ten days (February 10).
The DSS, in a statement on Monday signed by Peter Afunanya, the agency’s spokesman, in Abuja, also fingered some commercial bank officials of aiding the crime.
Read the statement below:
‘DSS intercepted syndicates selling new currency notes, bank official implicated’
“The Department of State Services hereby informs the public that it has intercepted some members of organised syndicates involved in the sale of the new redesigned naira notes. In the course of its operations, in this regard in parts of the country, it was also established that some commercial bank officials are aiding the economic malfeasance.
“Consequently, the Service warns the currency racketeers to desist from this ignoble act. Appropriate regulatory authorities are, in this same vein, urged to step up monitoring and supervisory activities to expeditiously address the emerging trend.
“It should be noted that the Service has ordered its Commands and Formations to further ensure that all persons and groups engaged in the illegal sale of the notes are identified. Therefore, anyone with useful information relating to this is encouraged to pass the same to the relevant authorities.”
