Recently, the Nigeria Customs Service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command in Ikeja, Lagos, handed over counterfeit $1.2 million notes and five cryptocurrency machines to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Additionally, they also transferred 148 pieces of Unmanned Area Vehicles, commonly known as drones, along with 112 military hardware items, two bulletproof helmets, and two Army vests to the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army in Lagos.
The EFCC’s Assistant Commander, Oguzi Moses, received the fake foreign currencies while the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Muhammad Usman, received the UAVs and military hardware.
Compt. Charles Orbih, the Customs Area Controller, mentioned that the handover of these seized items was carried out as per the instructions of the Comptroller General of NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
The importers of the UAVs failed to provide an End-User Certificate from the Office of the National Security Adviser, according to Orbih.
Major General Muhammed Usman, speaking after receiving the UAVs and military hardware, expressed gratitude for enhancing the collaboration between Customs and the Nigerian Army.
He also commended Compt. Orbih for the effort and expressed appreciation on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff for the items received, emphasizing the significance of these equipment being in the hands of authorities and not criminals.
Maj. Gen. Usman elaborated on the potential misuse of drones if they fell into the wrong hands, highlighting the importance of such collaborative efforts in preventing misuse and fostering a strong working relationship between the two organizations.