The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has commenced an investigation of two Lebanese citizens: Dina Jihad Khali and Chamseddine Waell Mohmmed, who attempted to smuggle $890,000 USD out of Nigeria.
They were arrested on Wednesday, August 12, by officers of the Customs Area Command, Port Harcourt, Rivers State for attempting to smuggle the said amount through the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
The suspects were handed over to the Port Harcourt Zonal office of the EFCC for further investigation, EFCC said in an emailed statement Wednesday by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity.
Speaking while handing over the two suspects, A.B Mohammed Olayinka, Customs Area Controller, disclosed that Khali with Passport
Number LR152975 (Republic of Lebanon) was arrested with $670,000USD, while Mohammed with Passport Number LR0356598 (Republic of Lebanon) had $220,000USD.
They were both arrested while trying to board a flight to Lebanon.
Olayinka further disclosed that the money recovered from the suspects, which they failed to declare to Customs, had been deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch, for safekeeping.
Principal Detective Superintendent Macaulay Olayinka, who received the suspects on behalf of the Zonal Head, thanked officers of the Customs Area Command for the synergy that exists between the Command and the EFCC.
He assured that investigation would commence in earnest, adding that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.
