Another Nigerian has been arrested with $320,000 cash at the Murtala Muhammed Airport.
The man, Onwuekwe Chidi was about to board a Qatar plane to Doha, when he was arrested.
Mr Epowei Charles, the Area Comptroller, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMI) Customs Command, said though Chidi declared the money, he could not explain the source of the currency or show adequate proof of his business to customs officials.
“The passenger and the money had been handed over to officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for further investigations,” Charles said.
In the last 3 months, the Customs and the EFCC have seized close to $11million from Nigerian travellers, especially to Dubai and Doha.
Just last week, Akinyele Adetula, a staff of FAAN, on whom was found $1.4million forfeited a quarter of the money to the Federal Government after trial in Lagos.
The trophy for the biggest cash smuggling belongs to Abubakar Sheriff Tijjani. The lanky dollar courier had $7,049.444, in his possession when he was arrested 27 September, 2012. He forfeited only a quarter of the undeclared $2.5million.
Analysts said the huge forex cash Nigerians are taking to other climes, suggest a heavy flight of much needed capital that can be deployed to better productive uses.
-PM News
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