Money laundering: Uproar as EFCC arrests Lebanese with $2.15m, £163,740, €144,680
…Lebanese’ arrest sequel to intelligence report
…We’ll soon charge him to court – EFCC
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday made huge catch with its zero tolerance for money laundering when it arrested one Abbas Lakis, a Lebanese with $2,104,936 millon United States dollar cash at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The trafficker, whose stocks would have adversely affected the economy, also had in his luggage £163, 740 British Pounds sterling, €144,680 Euros.
Other currencies found with Lakis include Riyal 391,838 (Three Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty Eight Riyals), CHF 3,420 (Three Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty Swiss Franc), and Lira 435 (Four Hundred and Thirty five Lira).
The trafficker also had in his possession £109,000 (One Hundred and Nine Thousand Lebanese Pounds), Dirhams 10,135 (Ten Thousand One Hundred and Thirty Five UAE Dirhams) ¥10,000 (Ten Thousand Chinese Yuan) and Riyal10 (Ten Qatar riyal), in his possession.
Lakis was picked up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following intelligence report that he had on him, undeclared huge sums of monies aboard the Egypt Airline bringing him from the Kano Airport en route Lebanon.
The offence contradicts the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 which prohibits moving large sum above the limit approved without declaring same.
EFCC said Lakis will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
