On Thursday, the Nigeria Customs Service’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command in Ikeja, Lagos, turned over counterfeit $1.2 million notes and five cryptocurrency machines to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Command also handed over 148 pieces of Unmanned Area Vehicles also known as drones, 112 military hardwares and accessories, two bullet proof helmets and two Army vests to the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army in Lagos.
It was reported that the counterfeited foreign currencies were handed over to the EFCC’s Assistant Commander, Oguzi Moses, while the UAVs and other military hardwares were handed over to the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Muhammad Usman.
The Command’s Customs Area Controller, Compt. Charles Orbih, said the handing over of the seized items was in line with the directive of the Comptroller General of NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
According to him, the importers of the UAVs could not provide End-User Certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Speaking after receiving the UAVs and other military hardwares, the GOC, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Muhammed Usman, said the gesture has further strengthened inter-agency collaboration between Customs and the Nigerian Army.
“I thank compt. Orbih for his excellent effort and on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, who sent me here to receive these items, I thank the Customs CG.
“By the time we hand over the drones to experts in the Army, we will know more of what damage it can do if they were in the wrong hands.
“If it can be equipped with ammunition and can be in the air for three days, then it was brought in for a mischievous purpose.
“However, this will foster relationship between the two organisations and we are happy these equipment are in the hand of the authorities, not criminals,”
he said.
