EFCC begins investigation into seized parcel containing over N426 billion in foreign cash at Lagos NIPOST
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into a suspicious parcel containing foreign currencies valued at over N426 billion, intercepted at a Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) facility in Lagos.
The development was disclosed in a statement posted on the official EFCC X account on Thursday, following the handover of the parcel by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and NIPOST to the anti-graft agency.
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.
“In a related development, the Commission has also begun investigation of a parcel containing ZW 101,000,000,000,000 (One Hundred and One Trillion Zimbabwean Dollars), equivalent to N426,091,066,068.06, and 41,640,000 VND (Forty‑one Million Six Hundred and Forty Thousand Vietnamese Dong), equivalent to N95,746.52, which was intercepted by officials of the Nigerian Postal Service , NIPOST, and operatives of the NCS,” the statement read in part.
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.(Nairametrics)
