The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into Duru Ikechukwu Damian, who was arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for allegedly failing to declare $59,000 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The EFCC disclosed the development on Wednesday via its official X handle, stating that Damian was intercepted on Monday by customs operatives during a routine check at the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Currency Declaration Desk. He was reportedly en route to Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight.
According to the NCS, the suspect declared only $10,000, but a search uncovered an additional $49,000, raising the total to $59,000. During the handover to the EFCC on Tuesday, the Area Comptroller, E.I. Harrison, said the process was part of sustained enforcement efforts.
“When we intercept currencies, we hand them over to the appropriate government agencies. We have carried out sensitisation and public announcements at the airport, but some travellers still fail to comply with the laws,” Harrison stated.
Receiving the suspect, Acting Zonal Director ACE I Ahmed Ghali reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to enforcing anti-money laundering laws. “We will always do our best to ensure that any individual who violates the law does not go scot-free,” he said.
