Jan.12, 2010
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said on Sunday that it had handed over two Lebanese to the EFCC for alleged money laundering.
The agency said in a statement in Ikeja that the suspects were being held in connection with the seizure of 300,000 dollars found on them at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) Abuja .
The statement was signed by Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, Head, Public Affairs, of NDLEA.
According to the statement, the first suspect, Fareed Berro (35), was intercepted at the airport for attempting to smuggle the amount concealed and wrapped as purported engine spare parts inside his hand luggage.
Berro was intercepted by NDLEA operatives during screening of passengers on Ethiopian Airline flight from Abuja to Beirut on Dec. 5, 2009, the statement said.
It said that the second suspect, an Abuja based businessman, Ibrahim Fadallah, who claimed to be the owner of the money, was also handed over to the EFCC.
``Berro who identified himself as a water expert was nabbed on the grounds of money laundering; for not providing satisfactory explanation on the source of the money.
``The mode of concealment also reinforced suspicion concerning the source of the money,’’ the statement said.
It quoted a letter signed by the agency's Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Mr Femi Oloruntoba, as saying that the duo were transferred to EFCC on the directive of its Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Giade.
It also quoted Giade as saying that the agency would continue to enforce the law and guard against illicit drug trafficking as well as money laundering.
``The agency will maintain a high level of vigilance at all times to detect illicit drug trafficking, money laundering and other criminal acts.
``The fact that the money was detected and due process is being followed,has sent a signal to others,” the NDLEA boss was quoted as saying.
Giade added that preliminary investigation did not link the suspects to illicit drugs hence the decision to transfer them to the EFCC.