The Delta State Police Command has issued a stern warning to Point of Sale (PoS) operators, cautioning them against facilitating large transactions, particularly amounts exceeding 500,000 Naira. According to the police, such transactions could potentially involve criminal activities, leading to legal consequences.
This warning was highlighted in a developing case where an unidentified PoS operator is currently under investigation for receiving a 4 million Naira deposit, suspected to be connected to a kidnapping ransom.
In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, on Thursday, 17th October 2024, the PoS operator explained her involvement, stating that a customer, Timothy Ogenechukwu, had previously conducted smaller transactions with her.
“He has been doing transactions with me, maybe at times 5,000 or 2,000,” she told the police.
However, on this occasion, Ogenechukwu transferred a significantly larger sum—4 million Naira—without providing a clear reason for the deposit.
“He only called me that morning and said I should check my account,” she said.
The operator claimed she was unaware that the money was linked to criminal activity, insisting that she believed it was a normal transaction.
“I didn’t know,” she explained, emphasizing that she had no prior knowledge it was part of a ransom payment from a kidnapping case.
Despite claiming ignorance, the operator admitted to profiting from the transaction, stating that her profit amounted to 40,000 Naira.
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“My profit is 40,000,” she revealed during the interrogation.
SP Edafe pressed her further, questioning whether she understood the implications of allowing large sums to pass through her account. He pointed out that the money was traced back to a kidnapping victim, implying that her role in receiving and distributing the funds could make her complicit in the crime.
Edafe used this case as a cautionary tale for PoS operators, advising them to reject transactions above 500,000 Naira and refer such clients to banks.
“I have been talking and educating people on social media, particularly PoS operators. Any person who wants to do transactions above 500,000 Naira should go to the bank,” Edafe warned.
He further added, “Whenever you ask a PoS operator if you are receiving money too much that is unreasonably high, understand that there is an element of crime in it because they are supposed to go to the bank.”
The case underscores the potential legal risks PoS operators face when handling unusually large transactions, as they could unwittingly become involved in criminal activities such as money laundering or ransom payments, leading to severe legal consequences, including jail time.
