Some of the seized carsSome of the seized cars

Segun Atanda/

 

Twenty-nine cars were today seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos during a raid on the office of a car dealer, Astrax Auto Shop.

According to a statement from EFCC’s acting spokesman, Tony Oriade, the raid followed intelligence report received by the Commission on the activities of the operators of the auto shop, who were seen as a syndicate of organized Internet fraudsters.

Astrax Auto's yard in Lagos
Astrax Auto’s yard in Lagos

The statement says, “Investigation revealed that the syndicate, which specializes in Business Emails Compromise, BEC, in the United States of America, USA, usually moves proceeds of its alleged illicit business to a nominated bank account owned by their mules in the U.S.

“The syndicate members allegedly launder the proceeds through money order, which they use to purchase cars in American auctions and ship same to Nigeria for sale.

“The EFCC had earlier arrested one of the syndicate members, Olusegun Micheal Adeyemi.

“In his statement to the EFCC, Adeyemi confirmed one Tayo Onilogbo Yusuf as the Managing Director of Astrax Autos and Automobile.

“The cars recovered from the syndicate include four Toyota Corolla; seven Toyota Camry; two Toyota Highlander; two Toyota Venza; two Range Rover; one  Ford SUV; three Mercedes Benz;  one  Toyota 4runner; one Toyota Sienna;  four  Honda Accord;  one Toyota Sequoia and one Kia car.”

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