Police Bust Counterfeit Currency Hideout In Abia, Arrest 40-Year-Old Suspect

The Abia State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old man, identified as John Paul, after operatives allegedly uncovered a hideout used for producing counterfeit Nigerian currency in Obikabia community, Aba.

The operation led to the recovery of seven bundles of suspected counterfeit ₦200 notes, which police said had been taken into custody as exhibits. Investigators are also working to track down other suspected members of the alleged counterfeiting syndicate who fled.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, disclosed the development in a statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, on October 9, 2026.

According to the command, operatives of its Anti-Kidnapping Unit raided the suspected hideout after receiving actionable intelligence that some individuals were allegedly involved in producing counterfeit Nigerian currency.

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The police said the intelligence-led operation resulted in the arrest of John Paul and the recovery of the suspected fake notes. However, the command did not disclose whether currency-printing equipment or other materials used in the alleged operation were recovered.

The investigation is ongoing, with officers seeking to establish the full scope of the suspected operation and identify other people allegedly involved. The police have not disclosed the estimated value of the recovered notes or how long the hideout had been in use.

The Commissioner of Police, Afolabi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating criminal activities and protecting lives and property across Abia State. He warned that the state would not be allowed to serve as a base for criminal operations.

The command also encouraged residents to provide useful information to security agencies to support efforts to identify and dismantle criminal networks.

The arrest comes amid ongoing police operations targeting suspected criminal activities in the state. However, John Paul remains a suspect, and the allegations against him have not been established in court.