NDLEA Intercepts Foreign Currency Smugglers
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Special Area Command has intercepted two currency smugglers at the Airport in Abuja.
The suspects, Obasi Derek Chidi who hails from Enugu State and Nebo Obunmneme Lloyd from Abia State were apprehended as they arrived the airport aboard an Ethiopian Airline Flight 911, connecting from Tel Aviv, Israel. They were arrested with various sums of hard currencies neatly concealed in their travelling bags which they failed to declare at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel or upon arrival at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
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Upon intensive search by officers and men of NDLEA, Lloyd was found with the sum of Three Hundred and Seventy One Thousand Two Hundred and Three Dollars ($371, 203), Twenty Thousand Euro (20, 000 Euro) and 20 Shekels while Chidi was found with Three Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Dollars ($318, 000).
According to Alhaji Hamisu Lawan, Commander, NDLEA NAIA, preliminary investigation indicated that the money was to be delivered to a recipient in Abuja who they claimed was expected to disburse same to supposed beneficiaries. “So far, the couriers could not give account of the source and purpose of the money”, he maintained, adding that the money was neither declared before take-off in Israel nor upon their arrival in Nigeria. He said the challenging security situation in the country called for vigilance in all areas.
He said the suspects and monetary exhibits have been transferred to the appropriate government agency for further investigation.
Jonah Achema, ACN
Principal Staff Officer, Public Affairs
