By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Authorities nabbed two Liberian nationals engaged in a “black dollar scam”.
In a statement Tuesday, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said two suspects, with aliases Gorge and Johnson, were arrested in a motel in Barangay Kamuning, Quezon City at about 5:20 p.m. on Jan. 31.
The arrested suspects are members of the Black Dollar African Criminal Gang operating the scheme throughout Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
The “black dollar” scam involves convincing victims to pay money for chemicals purportedly needed to convert counterfeit currency into real dollars.
Torre said the operation stemmed from a complaint filed by an entrepreneur named Susana against the two suspects who enticed her to buy these chemicals. The victim paid the suspects some PHP1.8 million for the materials.
Seized evidence during the operation included one genuine PHP1,000 bill, 20 counterfeit US dollar bills, a luggage bag, a vault containing cotton and powdered chemicals, a pile of green banknote-sized paper, multiple identification cards, and three mobile phones.
They are now facing criminal charges for Violation of Article 315 (Swindling/Estafa) and Article 168 (Illegal Possession and Use of False Treasury or Bank Notes and Other Instruments of Credit) in relation to Article 166 (Forging Treasury or Bank Notes) of the Revised Penal Code. (PNA)
