Counterfeit Money Order Ring Busted

With the arrest of three Nigerian nationals, the CBI has busted an international racket of multi-million dollar counterfeit MoneyGram money orders, used in the United States.

The three arrested racketeers Adenowo Adekunle Azeez, Dosunmu Oluwatosin Abimbola and a woman Sanni Animat Olajumoke allegedly used to forward consignments of counterfeit MoneyGram from India to the US through various courier companies while concealing their identities and whereabouts.

During the last six months, counterfeit MoneyGram money orders having a face value of US $36,78,125 (equivalent to Rs 17,65,50,000) were intercepted by the US authorities in America causing a serious alarm there. The US authorities subsequently approached the Indian government, which handed over the probe to CBI.

"After systematic intelligence gathering by CBI, the gang involving Nigerian nationals was identified and a key gang member (Nigerian national) was apprehended while he was making an attempt to forward a consignment of 158 counterfeit MoneyGram money orders each of US $970 having a total face value of US $153260 (equivalent to about Rs 73,56,480) on Saturday,'' said R K Gaur, press information officer of CBI.

Subsequent raids conducted by CBI at different locations in South Delhi resulted in the arrest of the other two gang members.