Police authorities in Ganta, Nimba County, have arrested a 27-year-old man, Abdourabham Sow, in connection with an alleged attempted robbery disguised as a currency exchange transaction.
The arrest followed a complaint lodged by two Fulani businessmen, Mamadou Diallo and Mohammed Gbar, who accused Sow of attempting to lure them into a scheme under the pretense of exchanging a large sum of Liberian dollars for U.S. currency.
According to the businessmen, Sow initially introduced himself as a Mandingo man and gradually gained their trust during an earlier meeting. As part of that interaction, he reportedly accompanied them to a mosque in Ganta, where they broke the Ramadan fast together.
Trouble reportedly began on Saturday morning when Sow informed Diallo that he possessed L$1.8 million and wished to exchange the amount for US$10,000. Sow, however, claimed the Liberian dollars were kept at his residence. Diallo told reporters that he followed Sow to his home to complete the transaction.
Upon arrival, Sow allegedly requested to see the U.S. dollars Diallo had brought. After the money was displayed, Sow reportedly asked Diallo to wait, claiming someone else was on the way with the L$1.8 million needed to complete the exchange.
After waiting for nearly an hour without any sign of the money, Diallo said he became suspicious and informed Sow that he would return to his shop, instructing him to come there once the cash arrived.
Sow later appeared at Diallo’s shop carrying a small bag, which he claimed contained the L$1.8 million. He allegedly refused to open the bag immediately, insisting on waiting for a friend to arrive. After an additional one to two hours passed without the appearance of the supposed associate, Diallo said he strongly suspected an attempted robbery scheme.
Fearing for his safety and the security of his money, Diallo contacted the Liberia National Police, who responded and subsequently arrested Sow for further investigation.
When questioned by reporters, Sow claimed his mother is Guinean and his father Egyptian, but said he had acquired Liberian citizenship. He further stated that he speaks several local languages, including Liberian Local English and other indigenous dialects.
Some local businesspeople have alleged that Sow previously employed similar tactics to defraud others, though police authorities say those claims have not yet been substantiated.
Sow also described himself as a businessman dealing in freezers and other electronic equipment. Additionally, he claimed to be a shareholder in ArcelorMittal and a security personnel with Segal Security. However, police said efforts to verify these claims were unsuccessful, as phone numbers provided for his alleged associates were reportedly unreachable.
Sow is currently being held at the Ganta Police Station and is expected to be forwarded to court on Monday, as investigations into the matter continue.
