The personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) arrested a Dubai-bound passenger, Ishaq Abubakar at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos with 2,886 ATM Cards concealed inside carton of noodles.
The suspect who was travelling to Dubai, United Arab Emirates on August 22, 2020 via the Emirates evacuation flight has been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following his arrest.
During a media briefing while handling the suspect to the EFCC in Lagos on Thursday, the Deputy Controller, Enforcement, NCS, Abdulmumin Bako, said that Abubakar was arrested at the Departure Hall of the airport.
Bako, who represented the Customs Area Comptroller, A. Ma’aji, said, “Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, on August 22, 2020, intercepted the suspect with 2,886 ATM cards and four SIM cards, which he carefully concealed in packs of noodles.
“The suspect, who claimed to have come from Kano to travel to Dubai aboard the Emirates evacuation flight, was seen with one Mr Musliu, who was assigned to facilitate his movement through the airport checks, but the diligence of our officers, who insisted on conducting a physical examination, revealed the concealment.”
The Lagos Zonal Head, EFCC, Abdul Rasheed Bawa, while receiving the suspect, said the ATM cards could be used for money laundering or foreign exchange malpractices, adding that everyone involved in the conspiracy would be arrested and prosecuted by the commission.
He stated, “On behalf of the commission and the acting Chairman, Mr Muhammed Umar, we have taken over Ishaq Abubakar and I can assure you that we are going to investigate the matter thoroughly and unveil everybody involved in the syndicate.
“There are several possibilities; there is an element of conspiracy, foreign exchange malpractices and money laundering and indeed, banks and bankers are involved.”
