Gbenro Adesina
Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), today arrested a suspect, lshaq Abubakar, with 2,886 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, which were handed them over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the Deputy Controller, MMIA command, Abdulmumin Bako, while briefing newsmen, four Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards were also intercepted with the suspect.
Bako explained that Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State was intercepted on his way to Dubai via Emirates flight.
He said, “At about 11:45 hours on August 22, 2020, 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 2,886 ATM Cards of various banks and four SIM Cards by our officers on duty. The ATM cards and SIM Cards were carefully concealed in a noodles carton by the suspect. The suspect claimed that one Mr Musiliu was assigned to him by one Mr Suleiman to facilitate his movement through the checks at the airport. As a result of the due diligence of our officers, who insisted on conducting physical examination, revealed the concealment”.
According to him, the Comptroller General of Customs has ordered that the suspect be handed over to the EFCC.
Reacting, the Zonal Head, EFCC, Lagos, Abdulrasheed Bawa, stated that the ATM cards would be used for money laundering stressing that investigation would commence immediately on the matter.
