EFCC says false money declaration exposes Nigeria to cash laundering dangers, probes passenger’s $578,000
The {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) has said that false money declarations expose Nigeria to cash laundering dangers, highlighting its ongoing investigation of a passenger caught with $578,000.
The Fee warned Nigerians to desist from such practices, in response to its assertion on Saturday.
Operatives of the Lagos Directorate 2 of the EFCC careworn that they’ve commenced an investigation right into a suspect, Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, who was arrested at Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) with $578,000.
Nairametrics beforehand reported that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport (MMIA) Command, had handed over $578,000 in seized money to the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) after a passenger allegedly falsely declared the quantity on the airport, officers introduced on Friday.
The passenger, a male traveler arriving in Lagos from Johannesburg aboard South African Airways Flight SA60, initially declared $279,000 on the airport’s foreign money declaration desk.
Nevertheless, throughout a routine inspection, customs officers found a further $299,000 hid in a number of packages, bringing the full sum to $578,000.
Authorities additionally discovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 observe among the many undeclared money.
Effiong Harrison, the Comptroller of MMIA Command, who oversaw the handover to the EFCC, said that the suspect’s actions violated the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011.
EFCC Begins Probe of Suspect
Reacting to the event in an announcement, the EFCC acknowledged receiving the suspect whereas commending the NCS for its cooperation with the EFCC.
The appearing Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ahmed Ghali, said that inter-agency collaboration was essential to attaining a standard aim.
He careworn that the Fee is probing the passenger for allegedly falsely declaring the money he was carrying alongside.
“I need members of the general public to be cautious of this type of act. It’s incumbent on every particular person going out or coming into the nation to declare any money in extra of $10,000. It’s necessary by advantage of the provisions of our legal guidelines, particularly the cash laundering legislation,” he stated.
- He appealed to the general public to desist from the act of false declaration or non-declaration, highlighting that it contravenes Nigeria’s anti-money laundering legal guidelines.
“We won’t permit anybody to sabotage the financial system or the nation’s {financial} system. This sort of act exposes the nation to numerous dangers by way of cash laundering; it additionally makes the nation look like a haven for fraud. We are going to proceed to synergize to make sure we’ve got a greater nation, a stronger financial system, and a extra useful {financial} system,” he stated.
He added that the lengthy arm of the legislation would at all times meet up with anybody concerned in felony actions.
What to Know
- The seizure highlights ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to clamp down on {financial} crimes and guarantee transparency in {financial} transactions.
- Over time, airports have been key factors of interception for undeclared funds linked to cash laundering and illicit {financial} actions.
- As enforcement businesses proceed to tighten laws, officers urge vacationers to adjust to {financial} reporting legal guidelines to keep away from authorized penalties.
- The case stays beneath investigation.