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N1.1bn Travellers’ Cheques, 10.89kg Cocaine Intercepted At Lagos Airport
Fred Omotara, Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted travellers’ cheques in different foreign currencies with a total value of N1,157,670,469.92 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Director, Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday.
According to the statement, at least one suspect identified as Oguma Richard Uchenna has been arrested in connection to the attempt to export the cheques, which were neatly concealed inside four bound hardcover books disguised as academic project literatures, to the United Kingdom.
The financial instruments suspected to be counterfeits were discovered on Wednesday 27th April at NAHCO export shed of the Lagos airport during cargo examination of some consignments meant for exportation to the UK on a cargo flight.
“A breakdown of the cheques showed they have monetary values of Two Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Three Dollars, Thirty One Cent ($287, 623.31); One Million Four Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Three Hundred Canadian Dollars ($1,456,300) and One Million Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand Eight Hundred (1,297,800) Euros, the statement read.
In the same vein, operatives of the NDLEA at the airport foiled an attempt by drug traffickers to smuggle into Nigeria 10.89kilograms of cocaine through a Qatar Airways flight.
The illicit drug was hidden in seven children’s duvets packed in an unaccompanied bag from Brazil