ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun investigating two travellers caught with undeclared foreign currencies amounting to over $6,000 and £53,000 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Terminal 2, Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement posted on the agency’s verified X handle on Saturday.
According to the EFCC, operatives from its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi identified the suspects as Mamud Nasidi and Yahaya Nasidi.
The anti-graft agency explained that the suspects were apprehended by personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria during a routine check on Saturday.
The suspects, who attempted to board an Aero Contractors aircraft with an undeclared amount exceeding $6.1 million in cash, were intercepted and arrested at the foot of the plane.
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They allegedly claimed to be security officers accompanying a suspect and carrying the money as exhibits.
However, the EFCC clarified in its statement that the pair had arrived in Nigeria from Dubai via Addis Ababa and were en route to Abuja when they allegedly failed to declare the sums of $6,180 and £53,415 in their possession, as required by law.
After their arrest, they were initially handed over to the Department of State Services before being transferred to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The EFCC also confirmed that three mobile phones were seized from the suspects at the time of their arrest.
The suspects and the confiscated items were officially received by CSE Margaret Lamai on behalf of the acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Ahmed Ghali.
The EFCC stated, “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, have commenced investigations of two travellers arrested by operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $6,180 and £53,415 cash in their possession.
“Also found on the suspects are three mobile phones. The suspects and the exhibits were received by CSE Margaret Lamai on behalf of the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Ahmed Ghali.”