The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced investigation into one Duru Damian, arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service for allegedly failing to declare $59,000 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The EFCC, in a statement on Tuesday by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Damian was intercepted by operatives of the NCS during a routine check at the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Currency Declaration Desk on Monday, August 11, 2025.

He added that the suspect, who was scheduled to travel on Emirates Airline to Dubai, initially declared possession of $10,000.

Oyewale said a subsequent search revealed an additional $49,000, bringing the total to $59,000.

Speaking during the handover of the suspect to the EFCC on Tuesday, the Area Comptroller of the NCS at the airport, E. I. Harrison, said travellers were repeatedly sensitised on currency declaration requirements.

?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 the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, ACE I Ahmed Ghali, said the commission would continue to enforce 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. (PUNCH)

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