Guinean nabbed for black money scam

MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested a Guinean man in Paranaque City on Friday for his alleged involvement in the so-called “black money” scam.

Aly Camara, 39, whom police said is from the Republic of Guinea, was apprehended by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at a hotel in Barangay San Isidro.

Col. Randy Glenn Silvio, who heads the CIDG’s National Capital Region field unit, said the operation stemmed from the complaint of a woman against Camara and two other foreigners – Alexander Laerund Geiger and an alias Hillary – who allegedly enticed her to buy
sheets of black paper they claimed would turn into dollar bills once a chemical solution is applied.

Silvio said the victim gave P850,000 to the suspects as initial payment and another P1.25 million for another transaction.

Police confiscated from Camara a paper bag containing bundles of black paper, a box containing white powder, aluminum foil and duct tape.

Silvio said the suspect belongs to the Black Dollar syndicate, whose members are mostly from West Africa. The syndicate operates in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Camara is being held on charges of estafa.