The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced investigation into a parcel containing foreign currencies valued at over N426 billion, which was intercepted at a Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) facility in Lagos
Cisca News reports that the development was disclosed by the anti-graft agency on Thursday, following the handover of the parcel by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and NIPOST to the EFCC.
The parcel reportedly contained ZW$101 trillion (One Hundred and One Trillion Zimbabwean Dollars), equivalent to N426,091,066,068.06, and VND 41.64 million (Forty-One Million Six Hundred and Forty Thousand Vietnamese Dong), equivalent to N95,746.52.
According to the EFCC, the items were intercepted through the vigilance and cooperation of NCS and NIPOST officials during routine examination of parcels at the Lagos postal facility. The handover ceremony took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Area Comptroller of Customs at the airport, E.J. Harrison, stated during the handover that the interception was a result of joint efforts between the NCS and NIPOST.
He said, “We intercepted a parcel that contained foreign currencies. In fact, it was the vigilance and dedication of our officers and the NIPOST’s officials, while examining the parcel, that it was discovered that someone was trying to bring in a load of currencies into Nigeria. But it is our responsibility to ensure that such doesn’t happen”.
Receiving the parcel, EFCC representative, M.A. Timta, speaking on behalf of the Acting Zonal Director of EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmed Ghali, assured the public that the Commission would expedite investigation into the matter.