LIVE UPDATES
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into Duru Damian, who was apprehended by the Nigeria Customs Service for allegedly neglecting to declare $59,000 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
According to a statement from EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale on Tuesday, Damian was stopped by NCS operatives during a routine inspection at the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Currency Declaration Desk on Monday, August 11, 2025.
He mentioned that the suspect, who was set to board Emirates Airline to Dubai, originally declared he had $10,000.
However, a further search uncovered an additional $49,000, totaling $59,000. During the suspect's handover to the EFCC, E. I. Harrison, the Area Comptroller of the NCS at the airport, noted that passengers are continuously educated about currency declaration laws.
"Announcements are made regularly to remind travelers of the necessity to declare their currencies or equivalents.
Electronic displays in the terminals also broadcast this information. Yet, there are still individuals who disregard these laws and regulations," Harrison stated.
In receiving the suspect, Ahmed Ghali, Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, emphasized that the commission will persist in upholding the law.
"We are here to take custody of one of the persistent offenders who refuse to comply with money laundering regulations. However, we will not cease our efforts to enforce the law.
Our message is clear: laws must be followed. Therefore, we will always strive to ensure that anyone who breaks the law faces consequences," Ghali declared.
