Nigerian arrested with $767,500 at Lagos airport

A Nigerian, Yusuf Taofeeq Olanrewaju, has been arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos with $767,500, which he was attempting to take out of the country.

Olanrewaju was arrested on Thursday by a team of the Nigeria Customs Service at the MMIA as he made to board a Emirates Airline flight to Dubai and then move on to Hong Kong.

The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, MMIA command, Thelma Williams, confirmed the arrest.

Williams said: “Upon investigation, the passenger, Yusuf Taofeeq Olarewaju, was noted as a frequent traveler with currency as follows: on April 27, 2012, one hundred and eighty two thousand dollars, which he took to Hong Kong. On May, 26, 2012, he traveled with two hundred and twenty eight thousand dollars to Hong Kong. On July, 21, 2012, he traveled with three hundred and ninety five thousand dollars to Hong Kong. On September 15, 2012, he traveled with five hundred and twenty five thousand dollars to Hong Kong. On November 3, 2012, he traveled with ten thousand dollars to China. And this present case, January, 10, 2013, when he traveled with seven hundred and sixty seven thousand and five hundred dollars to Hong Kong.”

Williams said the passenger and the money have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. However, Olanrewaju was said to have declared the money on the prescribed forms CDF1A and CDF1B.