The Lagos State Police Command on Monday said it has arrested a driver for allegedly cashing N633,000 with 30 Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) cards found in his possession.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Umar Manko, 18 other suspected armed robbers were also arrested in different parts of the metropolis.
He added that the driver, who claimed to work with Zenith Assurance, was arrested in Ogba area of Lagos while using the ATM cards to cash money from a branch of Guaranty Trust Bank.
The CP said that members of the public who suspected foul play informed the police who made the arrest.
“The suspect was using the ATM cards to withdraw some money. Other customers who saw him using the cards and suspected that he must have stolen them tipped the police.
“He had succeeded in cashing about N633,000 with the cards before he was arrested.
“The suspect claimed to be a money lender and disclosed that the cards in his possession belonged to those who borrowed from him and deposited them as collateral,” Mr. Manko said.
According to him, items recovered from the 18 other suspected criminals arrested include 16 cars, Indian hemp, laptops, passports, mobile phones and arms and ammunition.
The cars recovered from the suspects are currently parked at the police state headquarters in Ikeja.
The commissioner said that 12 of the suspects were arrested in Odogunyan, near Ikorodu. He added that five cars, three single barrelled locally-made shot guns, and 24 live cartridges were recovered from them.
Mr. Manko explained that some of the suspects were armourers, arm dealers and receivers of stolen items.
He said that the suspects snatched cars from motorists in Lagos and sell to buyers in Ogun.
The CP said that three of the paraded suspects were picked up at their hotel hideout in the Alagbado area of Lagos after snatching a car from the owner at gun-point.
He said that the police recovered the car and other stolen items during the operation.
Mr. Manko said that three others were arrested in Ijede area of Ikorodu, where a bag of Indian hemp, as well as arms and ammunition were recovered.
He said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations into the cases are concluded.
Posted: at | |