Ghana national held for running Customs clearance racket

New Delhi, Aug 14: The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested a Ghana National who was part of a module of cheaters engaged in duping people on the pretext of Customs clearance for high valued overseas gifts. The accused, identified as Godfrey Appiah alias King Kevin, was living in India even after his visa had expired. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of IFSO, K.P.S. Malhotra, said that a complaint was received wherein the complainant had alleged that he had been duped of Rs 12,75,000 on the pretext of Customs clearance on a puported gift sent by a woman named Salviya Graffin. The woman, after befriending him on Facebook in May, gradually started chatting with him and after gaining his confidence, told him that she has sent a gift to him. "Soon after, he started receiving phone calls from unknown persons claiming to be from the Customs department and other agencies, asking him to pay for the Customs clearance and other charges for the gift. Accordingly, a case was registered and investigation was taken up," Malhotra said. The police said that technical analysis led to the identification of the suspect, based in Khanpur, Delhi. Acting on specific inputs, the police conducted a raid and arrested Appiah. "He came to India in 2018 on the pretext of medical treatment. After his visa expired, he did not go back and forged his visa. He had learnt the modus operandi for the crime from his other associates. His other victims are being identified," the officer said. The police have recovered four Africa SIM cards, two laptops, four phones and a passport bearing forged visa from his possession. "We urge the citizens to exercise caution while engaging with anyone over social media and not to give money to anyone on the pretext of any kind of charges over the clearance of any gift from overseas," Malhotra said.