Home News EFCC arrest of Lebanese with huge sums raises issue of money laundering, terrorism

EFCC arrest of Lebanese with huge sums raises issue of money laundering, terrorism

by Armada News
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 The arrest of one Abbas Lakis on Friday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raises further questions on matters of money laundering and terrorism offences.

 

Lakis was arrested following intelligence that he had on him, undeclared huge sums of monies in different currencies aboard the Egypt Airline bringing him from the Kano Airport en route Lebanon.

 

On arrest and thorough search on his luggage, $2,104,936 (Two Million, One Hundred and Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty six Dollars),  £163, 740 (One Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty Pounds),  €144,680 (One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Euros) were found.

 

Other currencies found on Lakis include Riyal 391,838 (Three Hundred and Ninety One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty Eight Riyals), CHF 3,420 (Three Thousand Four Hundred and Twenty Swiss Franc),Lira 435 (Four Hundred and Thirty five Lira), £109,000 (One Hundred and Nine Thousand Lebanese Pounds), Dirhams 10,135 (Ten Thousand One Hundred and Thirty Five UAE Dirhams)  ¥10,000 (Ten Thousand Chinese Yuan)  and Riyal10 (Ten Qatar riyal), in his possession.

 

Operatives said he will he will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

 

However, there are insinuations that Lakis may be an agent for Nigerians and their business associates who are into money laundering.

 

Operatives are said to also be looking into the area of terrorism to see if the suspect has any link with insurgents inn terms of procurement of weapons for them and other materials the terrorists use to wreak havoc in the country.

 

An EFCC operative told armadanews.com that the investigation will be diligent and painstaking.

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