MMIA Customs Hands Over $578,000 Concealed Cash, Suspect To EFCC
By Asuquo Nuwak
MMIA Customs Hands Over $578,000 Concealed Cash,
Suspect To EFCC
The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of Nigeria Customs Service, under the exceptional leadership of Comptroller Effiong Harrison, has handed over a falsely declared sum of $578,000 and a suspect to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
During the handover ceremony on Friday, March 21, 2025, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Effiong Harrison, who disclosed that the suspect, Okorie Sylvanus Sunday, arrived in Lagos from South Africa on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, also said the suspects initially declared $279,000 at the currency declaration desk.
He said upon a thorough examination, customs officers discovered an additional $299,000 hidden in various packages. He said further searches uncovered €100 and $250 counterfeit note.
Comptroller Effiong Harrison is quoted as saying that: “This act is a clear violation of financial regulations, as the law only permits the declaration of amounts exceeding $10,000″.
Besides this, he the seizure and subsequent handover align with the policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, which focused on consolidation, collaboration, and innovation in curbing financial crimes.
The Acting Zonal Director of EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, who received the funds on behalf of EFCC, stressed the need for strict adherence to financial regulations.
Ghali reaffirmed that the EFCC will take over the investigation and ensure appropriate prosecution in accordance with their mandate to combat financial crimes.
Furthermore, Ghali said the development underscored the ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to curb illicit financial activities and enforce compliance with international monetary regulations.
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