Two people have been arrested by the officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, after they were caught trying to smuggle 325,640 Euros and $30,000 in cash from Greece and Austria.
The cash, concealed inside envelopes and shoes, were seized during the screening of passengers on a Turkish Airline flight.
According to Ahmadu Garba, the NDLEA commander at the Lagos airport, one Edos Nicholas was found in possession of 279,190 euros and another Hallowell Prince Lovely was caught with the sum of €46,450 and $30,000.
Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (retd.) directed the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation of the Agency, Mrs Victoria Egbase, to take over the investigation.
Preliminary investigation revealed that both suspects were frequent travelers who are the target of International Drug Trafficking Organisations.
It was learnt that Edos, who claimed to be working in a bakery in Austria said the money was given to him. “The money does not belong to me. It was given by different people in Europe to give to their relatives. I have been living in Vienna, Austria for over 15 years.”
Hallowell reportedly claimed that the money belonged to people and that he was asked to deliver same to the recipients in Nigeria. “I live in Athens and I work in an African shop. I have lived there for 12 years. The money belongs to many people and some of them are my friends” he stated.
