Authorities reported that two Liberian nationals were arrested in Quezon City for defrauding a businesswoman of P1.8 million through a black dollar scheme.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Tuesday disclosed that the suspects are part of the Black Dollar African Criminal Gang, which operates across Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.

Police added that the group is involved in a scam where victims are led to believe that large sums of money have been dyed black to avoid detection by authorities and can only be restored using a special chemical.

The complaint was filed by a businesswoman identified only as “Susana.” The two Liberian nationals, identified as “Gorge” and “Johnson,” were caught at a hotel in Kamuning, Quezon City last 31 January.

Authorities seized a genuine P1,000 bill, 20 counterfeit US dollar bills, luggage, a vault containing cotton and powdered chemicals, green banknote-sized papers, multiple identification cards, and three mobile phones during the arrest.

The suspects are facing multiple charges, including swindling/estafa and illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit under the Revised Penal Code.