Two men identified as Mahmud Nasidi and Yahaya Nasidi were arrested with a staggering $6.1 million and £53,415 cash at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos.
Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Aviation Security (AVSEC) reportedly intercepted the suspects as they attempted to board an Aero Contractors flight to Abuja.
According to a Daily Trust report, the duo were apprehended during routine security checks, after officers discovered multiple boxes filled with undeclared U.S. dollars.
Under Nigeria’s money laundering laws, passengers traveling with cash exceeding $10,000 are required to declare the amount with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
It was gathered that the suspects had initially passed through airport security units before they were stopped and arrested on the tarmac.
Sources confirmed that FAAN AVSEC personnel handed over the suspects to the Department of State Services (DSS), who in turn transferred them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
It was also learnt that the men had arrived from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and were scheduled to travel to Abuja before proceeding to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Confirming the arrest, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the suspects were in the agency’s custody.
“I can confirm to you that the suspects—two of them—were intercepted today and upon their arrest by the operatives of FAAN, they were handed over to us. The officials of FAAN handed them over to the DSS and the DSS handed them over to us,” Mr Oyewale said.
Also speaking, Ado Sanusi, CEO of Aero Contractors, explained how the suspects were stopped by the airline’s security team.
“Our security noticed some passengers trying to board our aircraft with bags that were quite heavy. Our team advised them to check the bags in, as they could not be carried into the cabin. They refused to check the bags, and later they said it was money,” Sanusi said.
“When asked if the money had been declared, they said no. At that point, our security personnel discovered that the individuals were either police officers or some form of security agents, who claimed they were escorting a suspect along with exhibits. That was why they resisted checking in the bags.”
He added that the airline refused to allow them on board, citing standard aviation procedures.
“We informed them that if they were transporting a suspect, they were required to notify us in advance. There are standard procedures for moving suspects; we don’t mix them with regular passengers. Since they failed to follow these procedures, they were not allowed to board, and they eventually left,” he explained.
The suspects and the seized cash were later received by CSE Margaret Lamai on behalf of the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Ahmed Ghali.