2 Cameroon nat’ls nabbed for trade of fake money
AUTHORITIES arrested two Cameroon nationals involved in selling and exchanging counterfeit money and seized from them millions worth of fake and genuine dollars and peso bills in a buy-bust operation in Taguig City.
Southern Police District (SPD) Director P/BGen. Kirby John Kraft identified the arrested suspects as Marcel Tezock Wenong, 38 and Patian Leboucan Achi, 40, bot condiment suppliers and residents of B-267 L-18 Target Range Ave. Brgy. Pembo, Makati City.
The two arrested foreigners were presented by Taguig Police Chief Robert Baesa to Col. Kraft and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director P/MGen. Jonnel Estomo on Tuesday, following their arrest at around 6:45 a.m. last week at the corner of B-21 L-12 King Fisher and Pelican Streets, Bay Breeze, Brgy. Hagonoy, Taguig City.
Taguig police chief P/Col. Robert Baesa said the buy-bust operation conducted by operatives of Station Intelligence Section led by P/Lt. Darwin Salvador was implemented after they received information that the two were engaged in selling and exchanging counterfeit money.
Col. Kraft said most of the victims were being deceived to exchange their peso to dollars or dollars to peso since they received genuine money for their first and second transaction but later, when they buy or exchange their money for the third transactions, they will be given counterfeit money.
During their arrest, operatives recovered from the two one bundle of fake US dollar which was the subject of buy-bust, 15 bundles of counterfeit US dollars and four bundles of P1,000 counterfeit peso bill placed in a black bag of Wenong, P1 million buy-bust money consisting of five pieces of genuine P1,000 bill and 10 bundles of P1,000 boodle money, a caliber .38 revolver loaded with five live bullets, a hand grenade and 40mm cylinder cartridge.
In a follow-up operation conducted by joint elements of Taguig Station Intelligence Section and Makati police led by P/Maj Santos Candido and Capt. Ferdinand Francisco at the residence of the suspect, BGen. Kraft said lawmen were able to recover another bundles of fake US dollars and peso bills that will be added to recovered evidence to be used in filing charges for violation of Art. 168 of Revised Penal Code or illegal possession of false treasury or bank notes, R,A. 10591 or illegal possession of firearm and R.A. 9516 or illegal possession of explosive.
MGen. Estomo lauded the Southern Police District and Taguig police for the successful buy-bust operation against the two foreigners as he called on other victims to come out and file charges against the two Cameroon Nationals who gypped them of their hard-earned money.
