The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos has arrested a Dubai-bound passenger, Ishaq Abubakar with 2, 886 automated teller machine (ATM) cards.
The deputy controller of NCS at the airport, Mr. Abdulmumin Bako who disclosed this said Abubakar was arrested before his flight to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates took off.
He said the passenger who was apprehended on August 22 had been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
He said the suspect also had four subscriber identification module (SIM) cards on him when he was intercepted.
Bako said Abubakar, with Passport No. A08333717, was travelling to Dubai on an Emirates Evacuation flight.
“The ATM cards and SIM cards were carefully concealed in a noodles carton by the suspect.
“The suspect claimed that one Mr. Musliu was assigned to him to facilitate his movement through the checks at the airport by one Mr. Suleiman but due to the diligence of our officers who insisted on conducting physical examination, revealed the concealment,” he said.
Bako said the suspect claimed that he was due for evacuation and had bought an evacuation flight ticket for his use.
The Lagos Zonal head, EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa said the ATM cards could be used for money laundering or foreign exchange malpractices.
“We have taken over Ishaq Abubakar who is in possession of 2886 ATM cards concealed in a carton of noodles together with four SIM cards. It is for us here to investigate and know whether the conspiracy is for foreign exchange malpractices or money laundering.
“We are also to determine whether banks or bankers are involved in this crime. We will investigate and anyone found wanting will be prosecuted alongside the suspect.
The EFCC said though it is not a crime to be with ATM cards but for a person to be in possession of 2, 886 is suspicious.
“That the ATM cards are of different banks is another conspiracy and that raises a lot of questions that needs to be unravelled.”
