A Nigerian man has been arrested by customs officials in the country for trying to smuggle over 2,000 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
The suspect, one Ishaq Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State, was intercepted when he tried to board an Emirates flight at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) to the UAE.
Officials of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in the airport found 2,886 ATM Cards and for SIM cards, carefully hidden in carton on noodles, on him.
The NCS handed Abubakar over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday.
The Deputy Controller, NCS MMIA command, Abdulmumin Bako, said: “At about 1145 hours on Aug. 22, at the departure hall gate ’B’ of the MMIA. Abubakar with Passport Number A08333717 from Kano State, travelling to Dubai via Emirates flight was intercepted with 2,886 ATM Cards of various banks and 4 sim cards by our officers on duty.
“The ATM cards and sim cards were carefully concealed in a noodles carton by the suspect.
“The suspect claimed that one Mr Musiliu 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 added that the suspect and the items would be handed over to the EFCC for further investigation as directed by the Comptroller General of Customs.
Bako pointed out that the suspect claimed that he was due for evacuation and had bought an evacuation flight ticket for his use.
The Customs Legal Adviser, Mr Smart Akande, noted that handing over the suspect to EFCC showcased agency collaboration as customs does not have the jurisdiction to prosecute but to arrest.
“What we have here is the case file, ATM cards and the noodles used in concealing the ATM cards and we are handing them over to EFCC for further investigation and prosecution,” he said.