FAAN's Security Stops Suspect From Trafficking N54.4bn

SAN FRANCISCO, September 04, (THEWILL) – Security officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on Thursday prevented a suspect (identity withheld) from trafficking $271.14 million dollars (N54.35 billion) through the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Ikeja.

FAAN Deputy General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Onyekwere Nnaekpe, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Lagos.

The statement said that the money was found on a cleaner attached to one of the cleaning contractors at the airport.

FAAN officials apprehended the suspect during a pat down at one of the screening points at 'D' Finger of the international terminal.

According to the statement, some of the foreign currency was found on the suspect while the remaining amount was found in the sanitary bucket, which he was trying to pass through screening.

The statement said that the cleaner was trying to convey the foreign currency to an accomplice at the sterile area of the terminal.

It said that the suspect was immediately handed over to the appropriate security agencies at the airport for further investigation.

THEWILL recalls that new foreign exchange rules introduced by the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN has made it difficult for money launderers to use the nation's financial system to wire funds abroad.