Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
Two Lebanese nationals arrested by Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for money laundering have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for further investigation and prosecution.
The two Lebanese nationals, Dina Jihad Khalil and Chamseddine Waell Mohammed were arrested on Wednesday first of July, 2020 at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa.
Dina Jihad Khalil was in possession of six hundred and seventy thousand dollars while Chamseddine Waell Mohammed was in possession of two hundred and twenty thousand dollars totalling eight hundred and ninety thousand dollars when they were apprehended by the Customs.
The Customs Area Controller Area 1 Command Port Harcourt, Anwal Mohammed, while handing over the Lebanese nationals to the EFCC said the Customs Service will stop at nothing to fish out smugglers in the country.
“It is very pertinent to note that the two suspects were arrested because they attempted to smuggle the money out of the country without making a proper declaration to the officials of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“The two suspects are hereby handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC for further investigations and possible prosecution. The case file which contains useful documents and the international passports belonging to the suspects are also handed over herewith.
“I want to use this medium to advise members of the public and other well-meaning Nigerians and foreigners alike to be law-abiding and refrain from acts that will jeopardize the National Security of the Nation. The service will stop at nothing to fish out smugglers and will not hesitate to bring them to book” he said.
The Principal Detective Officer of EFCC, Macauley Olayinka said the commission will conduct proper investigations into the matter.
He said the investigations into the case will commence immediately.
Our correspondent reports that the sum of eight hundred and ninety thousand dollars has been deposited to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, office in Port Harcourt for safekeeping.
