The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has commenced 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 by EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, following the handover of the parcel by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and NIPOST to the anti-graft agency.
According to the statement, 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 ₦426,091,066,068.06, and 41,640,000 VND (Forty‑one Million Six Hundred and Forty Thousand Vietnamese Dong), equivalent to ₦95,746.52, which was intercepted by officials of the Nigerian Postal Service , NIPOST, and operatives of the NCS.
“During the handing over of the suspect and the various foreign currencies, the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the Airport , E.J.Harrison, said: “Today, we have two interceptions that we want to handover to the EFCC. And they are coming from two separate places in the Command.
“The first one comes from an area that we may not know so much about, but it is part of our coverage and area of responsibility-that is NIPOST( Nigerian Postal Service).
“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.
“So, we have, today , a parcel that will be investigated by the appropriate agency of government.”
While receiving the suspect and the money contained in the intercepted parcel, M.A. Timta , an operative of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, assured the Service that the EFCC would, as usual, expedite action on investigation of the parcel as well as investigation and prosecution of the suspect.
Timta, who spoke on behalf of the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, commended the Service for its sustained efforts in tackling illegal financial activities in the country.
