A dubai-bound passenger was on Thursday handed over to the the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) at Murtala Muhammadu International Airport (MMIA) command for being in possession of 2,886 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.
He was nabbed for concealing 2,886 Automated Teller Machine(ATM) cards and four Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards in noodles.
The Deputy Controller of MMIA Command, Abdulmum, in a media briefing, added that four Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards were also found with the suspect.
According to him, the suspect, lshaq Abubakar Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State was intercepted when he was travelling to Dubai via Emirates Evacuation flight.
Bako, revealed how the suspect was nabbed. Represented by Customs Area Comptroller, A. Ma’aji, Bako said the suspect, who claimed to have come from Kano to travel to Dubai aboard the Emirate Evacuation flight, was seen with someone assigned to facilitate his movement through the airport checks.
Said he: “This raised the suspicion of the officers who insisted he should be physically and thoroughly checked after the scan machine had revealed he was carrying parks of noodles.
“At about 1145 hours on August 22, at the departure hall gate ’B’ of the MMIA, Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State travelling to Dubai via Emirates flight was intercepted with 2,863 ATM Cards and 4 sim Cards by our officers on duty.
“The ATM cards and sim cards were carefully concealed in an noodles carton by the suspect.
“The suspect claimed that one Mr. Musliu was assigned to him to facilitate his movement through the checks at the airport by one Mr. Suleiman but due to the diligence of our Officers who insisted on conducting physical examination, revealed the concealment”.
Bako pointed out that the suspect claimed that he was due for evacuation and had bought an evacuation flight ticket for his use.
The Customs Legal Adviser, Mr. Smart Akande noted that handing over the suspect to EFCC showcased agency collaboration as customs does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute but to arrest.
