Security prevents men from boarding aircraft with $6.1m, EFCC launches probe

Some men claiming to be security operatives attempting to board a flight with over $6.1 million in cash were intercepted and arrested on Saturday at the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 in Lagos.

The men were reportedly caught during routine checks while trying to board an Aero Contractors flight.

Sources explained that the passengers were found with multiple boxes loaded with undeclared U.S dollars.

It was gathered that the personnel had initially passed through airport security units before they were apprehended at the foot of the aircraft after Aero Contractors security noticed the heavy luggage.

The matter was then escalated and was reported to Aviation Security, which later handed it over to the Department of State Services.

A senior FAAN official who spoke under the condition of anonymity said the DSS later transferred the suspects to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, where they are currently being held for further investigation.

Another airport source told The PUNCH that the suspects had claimed to be security agents escorting a suspect and exhibits, but failed to declare the cash or follow due procedures for transporting suspects on commercial flights.

The Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, said his airline’s security team grew suspicious after the individuals refused to check in their heavy bags.

Sanusi explained that the bags contained money, and when asked if it had been declared, the suspects said no.

He explained, “What happened was that our security noticed some passengers trying to board our aircraft with bags that were quite heavy. Our security team advised them to check the bags in, as they could not be carried into the cabin.

They refused to check the bags, and later they said it was money. When asked if the money had been declared, they said no. At that point, our security personnel discovered that the individuals were either police officers or some form of security agents, who claimed they were escorting a suspect along with exhibits. That was why they resisted checking in the bags.

“We then informed them that if they were transporting a suspect, they were required to notify us in advance. There are standard procedures for moving suspects; we don’t mix them with regular passengers. There are boarding, deboarding, and in-flight protocols that must be followed in such cases. Since they failed to follow these procedures, they were not allowed to board.”

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has confirmed  that it is investigating how the travellers come to be  possession of the $6,000 and £53,000 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The information was contrary to the earlier claim that they were found with $6.1m.

A statement posted on the agency’s verified X handle on Saturday added that operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, based in Ikoyi, have identified the suspects as Mamud Nasidi and Yahaya Nasidi.

The EFCC in its statement said, “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, have commenced investigations of two travellers arrested by operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $6,180 and £53,415 cash in their possession.

“Also found on the suspects are three mobile phones. The suspects and the exhibits were received by CSE Margaret Lamai on behalf of the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Ahmed Ghali.”

. PUNCH