The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into an Indian national, Rajesh Kumar, who was apprehended at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos for allegedly attempting to smuggle $29,000 in undeclared foreign currency out of Nigeria.

Kumar, who was en route to India, was intercepted by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during a routine screening. At the time of his arrest, he reportedly declared only $6,000, concealing the remaining $23,000.

While officially handing over the suspect and the seized cash to the EFCC, Customs Area Comptroller E.I. Harrison emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in protecting the nation’s economy.

“We have the mandate and responsibility to ensure that anything that could harm our economy is stopped, particularly at this Command. Today, I formally hand over the suspect, the money, his passport, and relevant documents to the EFCC for further action,” Harrison said.

Receiving the handover on behalf of the EFCC, Assistant Commander Ibinabo Amachree, who heads the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) in Lagos, assured that the Commission would act swiftly on the case.

Representing the Acting Zonal Director of EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmed Ghali, Amachree noted that the arrest was a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s compliance with international anti-money laundering standards.

“This arrest reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to exiting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List. It also highlights the effectiveness of our collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU),” he said.

The EFCC has taken custody of Kumar, along with the seized funds and supporting documents, as investigations into the alleged money laundering attempt continue.