The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into one Duru Ikechukwu Damian, arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for allegedly failing to declare $59,000 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Damian, who was scheduled to travel to Dubai on Emirates Airline, was intercepted by customs officers during a routine check at the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Currency Declaration Desk on Monday, 11 August 2025. He initially claimed to be carrying only $10,000, but a search revealed an additional $49,000 concealed, bringing the total to $59,000.
Speaking during the handover of the suspect to the EFCC on Tuesday, the Area Comptroller of NCS at the airport, E.I. Harrison, said currency declaration is a standard requirement, with repeated public sensitisation and signage reminders for travellers. He noted that despite these measures, some passengers still fail to comply with extant laws.
Receiving the suspect, Acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, ACE I Ahmed Ghali, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to enforcing anti-money laundering laws, stressing that violators would not go unpunished.
The EFCC stated that investigations are ongoing
