Three arrested and $2m fake cash seized in Entebbe
In May this year, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit received a tip-off about a consignment that was suspiciously being held at Entebbe International Airport.
Fake dollars amounting to $2 million (sh7.3b) has been seized in a joint security operation in Entebbe. (Credit: State House Anti-Corruption Unit)
NewVision Reporter
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It may have looked real — two million US dollars in cash neatly stashed away in metallic boxes — but it turned out to be fake money. All of it!
And now, three people — arrested on Friday by security agencies in connection with the colossal find — have some explaining to do.
So what really happened?
In May this year, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) received a tip-off about a consignment that was suspiciously being held at Entebbe International Airport.
“Since then, SHACU, together with other security agencies, have monitored the consignment," said SHACU in a statement on Friday.
Last week on Tuesday — seven months after the initial tip-off — the consignment was reportedly smuggled out of the airport.
"SHACU investigation team was tipped off and traced the same in a motor vehicle garage in Entebbe," said the unit.
"Today [Friday], upon conducting a search, the joint investigation team discovered 40 large and medium metallic boxes containing suspected counterfeit dollars, amounting to $2 million (sh7.3 billion).
The counterfeit money had been concealed in metallic boxes found in a garage in Entebbe. (Credit: State House Anti-Corruption Unit)
"To hoodwink their would-be targets, the fraudsters added soil in the boxes to exaggerate their weight."
Following the discovery of the fake notes during the joint operation led by SHACU chief Brig. Gen. Henry Isoke, three people were arrested.
The operation also involved Entebbe Police, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) and Entebbe's local council leadership.
Besides the counterfeit money, the team also recovered several bulky, well-wrapped boxes, falsely appearing to contain goods in transit, yet they had discarded items, including empty crates of soda and beer.
SHACU said other suspects are being pursued.
"Brig. Gen. Isoke has reiterated the unit's determination, in coordination with other sister agencies, to crack down on criminals who target innocent citizens and foreigners to extort colossal sums of money through fraudulent and fake transactions,” said the statement.
In October this year, SHACU arrested five staff members of Entebbe International Airport on allegations of illegally dealing in minerals with intent to defraud.
They were arrested after a SHACU team was dispatched to the airport for an operation after receiving complaints over the matter.
Together with a businessman, the arrested airport staffers — four clearing agents and a cleaner — were charged at the Entebbe Chief Magistrate’s Court with dealing in minerals without a license, mingling minerals with intent to defraud, and smuggling minerals.
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