EFCC Investigates Man Arrested With $578,000 At Lagos Airport.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into Okorie Sunday, who was apprehended by the Nigeria Customs Service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with an undeclared sum of $578,000.
According to the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the suspect will face court proceedings upon the conclusion of the investigation.
Sunday, who arrived from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, initially declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk. However, during further inspection, Customs officials uncovered an additional $299,000 hidden in separate packages, bringing the total to $578,000. He was subsequently taken into custody.
Further checks also revealed €100 and a counterfeit $250 note in his possession, further violating currency declaration regulations.
Effiong Harrison, the Area Comptroller of Customs at the airport, transferred the suspect to the EFCC on Friday, condemning the act as a breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, which mandates the declaration of any amount exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent upon entry or exit from Nigeria. He confirmed that the recovered sum would be handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
Ahmed Ghali, the EFCC’s Acting Zonal Director in Lagos, received the suspect and praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance.
“We are taking over a passenger from South Africa who falsely declared the cash he was carrying into the country,” Ghali stated.
He urged travellers to comply with financial regulations, warning that violations could contribute to money laundering and economic instability.
“The law will catch up with those attempting to undermine financial transparency. Such actions tarnish Nigeria’s image and make it appear as a haven for fraud,” he added.
Ghali reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to collaborating with relevant agencies to uphold financial integrity and strengthen the nation’s economy.
