Police Bust Suspected Fake Currency Syndicate Operating Between Greater Accra and Eastern Regions
Three suspected members of a counterfeit currency syndicate — Ebenezer Natsu (20), George Attor (48), and Bishop Robert Olertey (54) — have been arrested by the Ghana Police Service following a major operation targeting fake money circulation in parts of the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions.
The suspects were apprehended by officers from the Odumase-Krobo Police Command after authorities discovered 105 bundles of counterfeit US dollars in $100 denominations, amounting to $1,050,000, hidden inside a black metal trunk with red spots at their hideout in Laasi, a suburb of Odumase-Krobo.
According to police sources, the arrest followed strict surveillance and intelligence-led operations conducted by the Koforidua Municipal Investigative Team, led by Augustine Asante Kusi, in collaboration with the Odumase-Krobo Police under Detective Corporal Williams Asante.
Investigators believe the suspects were preparing to release the fake US dollars into circulation during the busy Odumase-Krobo market day, where they allegedly intended to exchange the counterfeit currency for Ghana cedis.
In a dramatic twist during the operation, police sources claim that Bishop Robert Olertey allegedly attempted to bribe officers with GH¢200,000 in genuine cash in an effort to settle the case and avoid arrest. Officers reportedly rejected the offer and proceeded with the arrest, maintaining the integrity of the operation.
The suspects, along with the seized counterfeit currency, were transported to the Odumase-Krobo District Police Command for further questioning before the case was transferred to the Akosombo Police Division, headed by Chief Superintendent Doris Grant, for continued investigations.
On Friday, March 13, 2026, Ebenezer Natsu was arraigned before the Odumase Circuit Court, where he was remanded into custody to assist police with ongoing investigations. The two other suspects, George Attor and Bishop Robert Olertey, have been granted police enquiry bail while investigations continue.
Police say they are expanding investigations to uncover other members of the counterfeit network, warning that anyone involved in the illegal circulation of fake currency will face the full force of the law.
