Customs intercepts container-load of N15m

Posted by admin Headlines Monday, June 20th, 2011

LAGOS – THE Tin-Can Island Customs Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, yesterday, intercepted a container containing $110,000.60 (about N15 million) and arrested the Customs agent who attempted to clear the strange cargo.

The container, with number MSKU 966291/0 and brought in a Safmarine vessel, sailed in from the United States of America. The cash was discovered during Customs examination.

Confirming the development, the Customs Area Comptroller, Mr. Austen Ayepayefa Warikoru, said that the money was too large to have been brought in through a container. He noted that the money should have been brought in through a more transparent means.

The container, according Warikoru, also contained a Honda Pilot car with other personal effects.

He said the method of transferring the money was against the Money Laundering Act, adding that as soon as Customs concludes its investigation, the suspect and the money will be handed to the appropriate authorities.

Customs sources told Vanguard that the importer of the money has been traced to Festac and Customs official are currently on his trail.

It was also gathered that an official of Duncan Bonded Terminal was contracted to clear the said container, but sub-contracted the job to another agent who is currently being detained by the Customs.

-Vanguardwp_posts