The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) of Ghana has revealed that some churches and administrative offices of religious organisations were allegedly used by criminal syndicates as a cover for counterfeit currency operations. This discovery was made following an intelligence-led crackdown by the NSCS, in collaboration with relevant security and intelligence agencies. The operation resulted in the dismantling of four counterfeit currency printing hubs and the arrest of 16 suspects.
According to the NSCS, the suspects used religious facilities to conceal their activities and evade suspicion. The premises provided an environment that helped suppress the noise and vibration generated by industrial printing machines. The facilities were also used to store counterfeit currency materials, enabling the syndicates to operate with minimal suspicion from surrounding communities.
The NSCS disclosed that the syndicates operated through structured networks involving cross-border facilitators, technical printing operators, and commercial courier or dispatch riders. The dispatch riders relied largely on motorcycles to distribute the counterfeit currency to various locations. This highlights the complex and organised nature of the counterfeiting networks.
During the crackdown, millions of finished counterfeit notes and large quantities of unprocessed coupons were seized. Four printing machines, reportedly capable of producing millions of counterfeit notes daily, were also intercepted. The seizure of these machines and materials has helped avert potential threats to Ghana's financial system and the integrity of the country's currency.
The NSCS stated that the operation forms part of ongoing efforts by Ghana's security and intelligence agencies to dismantle organised criminal networks involved in currency counterfeiting and prevent the circulation of fake notes in the economy. The findings highlight the increasingly structured nature of the alleged counterfeiting networks, involving multiple actors from production to distribution.
The use of religious facilities by counterfeit currency syndicates has raised concerns about the potential for such criminal activities to go undetected. The NSCS's efforts to dismantle these networks demonstrate the government's commitment to preventing the circulation of counterfeit currency and protecting the country's financial system.
The successful operation by the NSCS and other security agencies is a significant step towards curbing counterfeit currency activities in Ghana. The government is expected to continue its efforts to prevent such crimes and ensure the integrity of the country's currency.
Key points
- The National Security Council Secretariat dismantled four counterfeit currency printing hubs and arrested 16 suspects.
- Some churches and religious offices were allegedly used as a cover for counterfeit currency operations.
- The seized printing machines were capable of producing millions of counterfeit notes daily.
