The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command on Thursday intercepted and handed over a Dubai-bound passenger with 2,886 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
The Deputy Controller of customs in-charge of the MMIA, Abdulmumin Bako in a media briefing on Thursday explained that four Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards were also intercepted with the suspect.
According to DC Bako, “The suspect, one Ishaq Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State was intercepted when he was travelling to Dubai via Emirates Evacuation flight.
Customs intercept Dubai-bound passenger with 2,886 ATM cards at Lagos Airport
“At about 1145 hours on Aug. 22, at the departure hall gate ’B’ of the MMIA, Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State travelling to Dubai via Emirates flight was intercepted with 2,863 ATM Cards and 4 sim Cards by our officers on duty.
“The ATM cards and sim cards were carefully concealed in a noodles carton by the suspect.
“The suspect claimed that one Mr Musliu was assigned to him to facilitate his movement through the checks at the airport by one Mr Suleiman but the concealment was revealed due to the due diligence of our Officers who insisted on conducting a physical examination.”
He added that the suspect and the items would be handed over to the EFCC for further investigation as directed by the Comptroller General of Customs.
Bako pointed out that the suspect claimed that he was due for evacuation and had bought an evacuation flight ticket for his use.
The Customs Legal Adviser, Mr Smart Akande noted that handing over the suspect to EFCC showcased inter-agency collaboration as Customs does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute but to arrest.
“What we have here is the case file, ATM cards and the noodles used in concealing the ATM cards and we are handing them over to EFCC for further investigation and prosecution,” the Customs Legal Adviser added.
