The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Abu Dhabi Police foiled an African gang’s attempt to sell and distribute counterfeit money amounting to $10 million.  

Colonel Dr Rashid Mohammad Borshid, head of the CID said it was the largest seizure of its kind in Abu Dhabi since the beginning of the year.

Colonel Borshid said:  “The CID received a tipped-off regarding the intentions of ‘A.A. Oroo’, a Cameroonian by nationality and a janitor by profession. He was living here illegally and intended to sell the extremely sophisticated counterfeit dollars for nearly $2.5 million.”

The CID sent an undercover agent as an interested buyer, who then arranged to meet with the suspect in one of the capital’s hotels to inspect the notes. “The suspect arrived at the designated location and was caught red-handed as he opened the bag containing the counterfeit money,” he said.

Col Borshid said the suspect claimed that he was merely the middle man, and that the money did not belong to him. He claimed that he was acting on behalf of a fellow countryman.

“From the information provided by the first suspect, we were able to identify the owner of the counterfeit money alongside an additional suspect. Their details were circulated and followed-up on to bring them before the courts,” he said.