EFCC begins probe of Suspect over Undeclared $59,000 At Lagos Airport

August 12, 2025

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 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.

Damian was intercepted by operatives of the NCS during a routine check at the AML/ CFT Currency Declaration Desk on Monday, August 11, 2025 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

Upon his arrest, the suspect, who was scheduled to travel on Emirates Airline to Dubai, claimed he had only $10,000( Ten Thousand Dollars) 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, August 12, 2025, the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the Airport , E. I. 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.

“We have carried out sensitization 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…”, he said

While receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Assistant Commander of the 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.”