The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into one Duru Damian, who was arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for allegedly failing to declare $59,000 in cash.
According to a statement on Tuesday by EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, Damian was intercepted by NCS operatives during a routine check at the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Currency Declaration Desk on Monday, August 11, 2025. He was reportedly scheduled to travel to Dubai via Emirates Airline.
Oyewale said the suspect initially declared $10,000 but a subsequent search uncovered an additional $49,000, bringing the total amount to $59,000.
Speaking during the handover of the suspect to the EFCC, the Area Comptroller of the NCS at the airport, E. I. Harrison, noted that travellers had been repeatedly sensitised on the rules for currency declaration.
“Announcements are made at intervals on the need for travellers to declare their currencies or equivalents. Electronic signages in the halls also display these messages.
“Yet, at intervals, we also have people who fail to adhere to the extant laws and regulations,” Harrison said.
Receiving the suspect, the Acting Zonal Director of EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, ACE I Ahmed Ghali, stressed the agency’s resolve to uphold the law.
“We are here to take over one of the recalcitrant Nigerians who do not want to abide by the law in relation to money laundering. But we will not relent in enforcing the law.
“All that we are saying is that laws are meant to be obeyed. So, we will always do our best, in line with our mandate, to ensure that any individual who violates the law does not go scot-free,” Ghali stated.
