EFCC probes traveller over undeclared $59,000 at Lagos airport

The operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have commenced investigation of one Duru Ikechukwu Damian arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for allegedly failing to declare the sum of $59,000.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Tuesday, disclosed that Damian was intercepted by Customs operatives during a routine check at the AML/ CFT Currency Declaration Desk at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State, on Monday, August 11, 2025.
Upon his arrest, the suspect, who was scheduled to travel on Emirates Airline to Dubai, claimed he had only $10,000 on him.

However, when a search was conducted on him, a sum of $49,000 was discovered undeclared, totalling $59,000.
During the handing over to the EFCC on Tuesday, the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the Airport , E. I. Harrison said: “When we intercept currencies,  we do the needful of handing over to the appropriate agencies of government.

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“We have carried out sensitisation and we have had public announcements.

“Presently, at the airport, announcements are being made, at intervals, 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.”

While receiving  the suspect, the acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, ACE1 Ahmed Ghali, said: “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. But we will not relent in enforcing the law.

“All that we are saying is that laws are meant to be obeyed. So, 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.”

The Star