The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos office, today
November 27th, seized a total of 29 exotic cars during a raid on the
office of a Lagos-based car dealer, Astrax Auto Shop. According to a
statement released by the agency, the raid followed intelligence report
received by the Commission on the activities of the operators of the
auto shop, who are said to be a syndicate of organized Internet
fraudsters. 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.
