LAGOS: The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it foiled an attempt by a Nigerian passenger to smuggle out of the country twenty-three wraps containing thirty-four thousand United States dollars ($34,000) through the International Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The NDLEA gave the name of the suspect as Ozoh Ikenna, noting that it’s officials had promptly arrested him at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos on his way to Brazil.
Smuggling of foreign currency is considered illegal and a crime against the Nigerian law.
The NDLEA said the dollars were detected during screening of passengers on Etihad Airways flight to Abu Dhabi. The money was packed in wraps similar to narcotics and concealed in his boxer shorts.
NDLEA Airport commander, Ahmadu Garba, who briefed journalists, said that the arrest was facilitated with the aid of scanning machine. “The wraps of dollars found on Ozoh Ikenna were detected with the aid of a scanning machine. We also conducted a follow-up operation where one Ogbo Emmanuel, who gave Ozoh the $34,000 dollars, was arrested,” the commander stated.
Investigation conducted by the Assets and Financial Investigation directorate headed by Mrs Victoria Egbase revealed that the suspects are involved in the laundering of substantial amount of illicit drug proceeds. According to Egbase: “We were able to trace over N226,000,000 to one bank account belonging to the second suspect, Ogbo Emmanuel. The account name is Eternal God International Limited”.
Ozoh, in his statement, said that he was only a courier. “I live in Brazil since 2008. I was paid to smuggle the $34,000 to Brazil.
They promised to pay me five per cent. I agreed to smuggle the money to alleviate my financial hardship. I could not swallow the wraps so I decided to hide it in my underpants,” he stated.
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