The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced investigation of one Duru Damian arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over alleged failure to declare 49,000 dollars at Lagos Airport.

EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that Damian was intercepted by the customs operatives during a routine check at the AML/ CFT Currency Declaration Desk on Monday at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said, “Upon his arrest, the suspect, who was scheduled to travel on Emirates Airline to Dubai, claimed he had only 10,000 dollars on him. However, when a search was conducted on him, a sum of 49,000 dollars was discovered undeclared, totalling 59,000 dollars.’’

The Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the Airport, Effiong Harrison, while handing over the money to the EFCC, decried failure of travellers to comply with the currency declaration law.

Mr Harrison said, “Today, we are having a process that we have been doing over a period of time now. When we intercept currencies, we do the needful of handing over to the appropriate agencies of government.’’

According to him, sustained sensitization and announcements are being made at relevant airports on the need for travellers to declare their currencies or equivalents.

“Also, the electronic signages in the halls display these messages.  Yet, at intervals, we also have people who fail to adhere to the extant laws and regulations,” he said.

On his part while receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Assistant Commander Ahmed Ghali, said the commission would continue to enforce the law.

Mr Ghali stated, “We are here to take over one of the recalcitrant Nigerians who do not want to abide with the law in relation to money laundering. We will not relent in enforcing the law. All that we are saying is that laws are meant to be obeyed. We will always do our best, in line with our mandate, to ensure that any individual who violates the law does not go scot-free.’’

(NAN)