After being arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for allegedly trying to travel with $29,000 in undeclared foreign money, Rajesh Kumar is the subject of an investigation by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On Wednesday, while undergoing a standard inspection at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, Customs officers detained Kumar. While travelling to India, the suspect allegedly disclosed just $6,000 at the time of his detention.
In transferring the suspect to the EFCC, the airport’s Customs Area Comptroller, E.I. Harrison, emphasised the value of interagency cooperation in protecting Nigeria’s economy.
“We have the mandate and the authority to make sure that whatever will be injurious to our economy is not allowed to take place, especially in this our Command.
“So, today, on behalf of our Service, I want to formally hand over the money, passport and file containing the statement of the passenger involved to the EFCC for further necessary actions,” Harrison stated.
Receiving the suspect on behalf of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the Commission and Head of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, Lagos, ACE Ibinabo Amachree, assured that the Commission would take swift action on the matter.
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Speaking on behalf of the Acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmed Ghali, Amachree noted that the arrest reflects positively on Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to meet international anti-money laundering standards.
“This arrest will further enhance Nigeria’s image, especially as we work towards exiting the Financial Action Task Force, FATF, Grey List.
“As a matter of fact, this is one of the gains of our robust collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU,” Amachree said.
The EFCC has since taken custody of the suspect, the seized funds, and accompanying documentation as investigations continue.
