Nigerian Man Arrested With 2,886 ATM Cards Handed To EFCC – [Photo]

Personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, has handed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC a Dubai-bound passenger, Ishaq Abubakar, who was caught with about 3,000 Automated Teller Machines.

Naija News understands that the suspect with passport number A08333717 was apprehended by NCS officers with 2,886 ATM cards and four Subscriber Identification Module cards concealed inside Indomie noodles cartons.

The suspect was said to be arrested while travelling to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates on August 22, 2020, via the Emirates evacuation flight. Speaking to newsmen on Abubakar’s arrest on Thursday, September 10 in Lagos, the Deputy Controller, Enforcement, NCS, Abdulmumin Bako said the suspect was arrested at the Departure Hall of the airport.

The DC who represented the Customs Area Comptroller, A. Ma’aji, said, “Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Departure Hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, on August 22, 2020, intercepted the suspect with 2,886 ATM cards and four SIM cards, which he carefully concealed in packs of noodles.

“The suspect, who claimed to have come from Kano to travel to Dubai aboard the Emirates evacuation flight, was seen with one Mr Musliu, who was assigned to facilitate his movement through the airport checks, but the diligence of our officers, who insisted on conducting a physical examination, revealed the concealment.”

On his part, while receiving the suspect, the Lagos Zonal Head, EFCC, AbdulRasheed Bawa, said “the ATM cards could be used for money laundering or foreign exchange malpractices,” adding that everyone involved in the conspiracy would be arrested and prosecuted by the commission.

He added, “On behalf of the commission and the acting Chairman, Mr Muhammed Umar, we have taken over Ishaq Abubakar and I can assure you that we are going to investigate the matter thoroughly and unveil everybody involved in the syndicate.

“There are several possibilities; there is an element of conspiracy, foreign exchange malpractices and money laundering and indeed, banks and bankers are involved.”