Police burst fake Trinidad and Tobago embassy in Lagos

A syndicate operating a fake Trinidad and Tobago embassy in Nigeria where a sizeable number of Nigerians have been swindled has been busted by men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command.

Reports say a raid at the office of the syndicate situated inside an hotel, Golden Point and Suite, on Duduyemi Street in Ejigbo, witnessed the arrest of two Chinese, Liu Honyang, 47, Sun Xinai, 49 and two Nigerian collaborators Oriyomi Olawale, 47 and Desmond Chinedu, 25 who all connived to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

According to reports, the police swung into action after they were inundated with a series of petition by members of the public about the fraudulent acts of the Chinese nationals who use Nigerians as cover.

Recounting his ordeal in the hands of the syndicate, Adekunle Adefuye, a victim said;“I met these people (suspects) through one of their agents, Dorcas Slyver. She is a daughter to my brother’s pastor in Abeokuta. I told her my intentions and zeal to travel to United States of America….

“After a while, she told me to come to Lagos that she can procure the American visa for me…. On getting to Lagos, she took me to these Chinese where I was told that I should go to Trinidad and Tobago…. They persuaded me to go Trinidad and Tobago that it was easier to secure employment with at least 3,000 dollars as salary.”

Continuing, the victim said; “Initially, I declined to take their bait, insisting that I preferred America to Trinidad and Tobago (T&T)…. But in the long run, they brainwashed me into agreeing to go to Trinidad and Tobago. It was at this point, I was told that I would pay N1.3 million for the whole process including visa processing and flight fare…. The payment was made in installment. N376,000 for Visa, ticket N850,000, accommodation N39,000 and Visa Fee N33,000, which I obliged and paid all the monies into Dorcas’ GTB Accounts: 0130671906.”

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However, Adefuye said he and another person were arrested on getting to Trinidad and Tobago and later deported after immigration officials revealed that they came into the country with fake visas.

“We spent two days underground inside the Police custody. They treated us like criminals trying to enter the country illegally,” he added.

“We left Lagos enroute Lome on October 19th, 2016. From Lome to Sao Paulo in Brazil. From there, we moved to Panama where we boarded another plane to Trinidad and Tobago…. On getting to the country, we were arrested by their security operatives accusing us of entering their country with fake visa and documents…. We were locked up for 48 hours before we were deported on October 22nd, 2016 and arrived Nigeria the following day,” he added.

Adefuye stressed, “When we arrived Nigeria, we didn’t let them know we have been deported. They thought possibly we were lucky to have entered the T&T without any challenge. That was when we decided to report their activities to the police”.

The Police Public Relations Officer of Lagos State, Superintendent of Police, SP Dolapo Badmus, revealed that the police were on the hunt for other members of the syndicate who are said to be on the run.

“I will also use this medium to advise the public to be wary of visa agents and anyone who wishes to travel out of the country should direct their applications to the Embassies,” she added.

The Lagos PPRO also revealed that all the suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

 

 

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