A joint security operation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) and other agencies led to the arrest of three suspects involved in a counterfeit smuggling scheme. The operation, conducted in Entebbe, Wakiso District, uncovered $2 million in counterfeit currency hidden in metallic boxes.
Kennedy Odongkara, Communications Officer for SH-ACU, revealed that the first suspicious shipment had been smuggled out of the country on December 17, 2024. This prompted an intensive investigation into the origin and movement of the counterfeit money.
“After the initial consignment was illegally transported out, we, together with intelligence agencies, began close surveillance. We received a tip-off when the counterfeit money was moved from the airport to a garage in Entebbe,” Odongkara explained.
The December 27, 2024, operation involved SH-ACU, Entebbe Civil Aviation Police, and local leaders. The team discovered $2 million in fake currency, neatly bundled and stored in 40 metallic boxes.
To avoid detection during transport, the suspects filled some of the boxes with soil and stationery to make them heavier. Additional boxes, disguised as goods in transit, were found containing unrelated items like empty crates of soda and beer.
Brigadier General Henry Isoke, Head of SH-ACU, vowed continued collaboration with other security agencies to dismantle criminal networks exploiting innocent people and foreign nationals through fraudulent activities.
“This is a clear example of organized crime targeting unsuspecting victims with fake transactions. We will not relent in our efforts to bring such criminals to justice,” Brig. Gen. Isoke affirmed.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the full extent of the smuggling ring and identify other individuals involved. The suspects remain in custody as legal proceedings commence.
