Operatives of EFCC seize N1.1b worth of gold at Abuja airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized gold worth about $3, 131, 412.39 (N1, 127, 308, 460.39) being allegedly exported to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, illegally.

According to a report by TheNation, EFCC named one Abba Ali Yahaya as the brain behind the deal. Apart from impounding his passport, about €112,000 undeclared by Abba, has also been forfeited over alleged violation of

the nation’s Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.

The precious metal was handed over to the suspect by a syndicate of illegal miners operating in Zamfara State. The anti-graft agency is already on the trail of four members of the said syndicate said to have perfected ways of beating security agencies at the nation’s airports. The suspect, who admitted to be a courier, was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by EFCC operatives led by a crack female detective.

It was gathered that the suspect had escaped being caught by all the screening machines at the airport. The fact-sheet indicated that “the suspect was caught following a tip off after he

had managed to pass through all the screening machines without being caught.