The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into one Duru Ikechukwu Damian, who was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for allegedly failing to declare a total of $59,000 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The development was disclosed on Wednesday via the Commission’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
According to the EFCC, Damian was intercepted by Customs officials on Monday during a routine check at the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Currency Declaration Desk. He was en route to Dubai aboard an Emirates Airline flight.
Although Damian reportedly declared only $10,000 — the legal threshold for undeclared cash — a search revealed an additional $49,000 concealed in his possession, bringing the total to $59,000.
During a formal handover to the EFCC on Tuesday, the Area Comptroller of Customs at the airport, E.I. Harrison, described the incident as part of ongoing enforcement operations.
“This is a routine process we’ve maintained over time. Whenever we intercept undeclared currency, we follow due procedure by handing over to the relevant authorities,” Harrison said. “Despite regular public announcements and visible signage reminding travellers to declare their currencies, we still encounter individuals who flout the law.”
Receiving the suspect, the Acting Zonal Director of EFCC’s Lagos Directorate 2, ACE I Ahmed Ghali, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to upholding anti-money laundering laws.
“We are here to take custody of yet another individual who has chosen to disregard legal requirements regarding currency declaration,” Ghali stated. “Let it be clear: laws are meant to be obeyed, and we will not relent in our duty to enforce them. Anyone who violates these laws will be held accountable.”
