Nigerian racketeer nabbed

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

A Nigerian national who made an attempt to dupe a Sri Lankan national near the Mount Lavinia Hotel was arrested by the Special Investigation Unit of the Mount Lavinia police on Friday. The suspect was later handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe into several international rackets that he was involved in, the Police Media Spokesman, Superintendent of Police Ajith Rohana told the Sunday observer.

The racket was barred when the Nigerian National phoned up a resident at Jaya Mawatha at Ratmalana and informed him that he had won a prize of six lakhs sterling pounds from the Coca Cola Company in United Kingdom and for him to collect the prize money at Katunayake Airport.

When the Sri Lankan told him to furnish him the winning number or to bring along the cash to his home, the Nigerian told him that he had already arrived at the Katunayake airport with the cash and for him to come along with 250 Sterling Pounds to be paid to the Customs. But when the local man refused to go to Katunayake the Nigerian told him that he would sent his agent to Mount Lavinia Hotel and for him to collect the money from him.

However when the local man sensed that it was a hoax, he lodged a complaint with the Special Investigation Unit of the Mount Lavinia Police. On 24th February OIC of the Special Investigation Unit, Sub Inspector Kumara Nalawansa laid a trap near the Mount Lavinia Hotel and arrested the Nigerian suspect who had a bogus identity card of the United Nations.