Bureau de change operator, others held for swallowing $156,000

Wrapped dollars

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a money laundering syndicate that specialises in swallowing dollars before travelling out of Nigeria.

Among the six suspects arrested in a hotel after NDLEA got an intelligence report, is a Bureau de change operator.

NDLEA spokesman, Mitchel Ofoyeju said that the suspects were arrested in connection with swallowing one $156,000, equivalent of N31 million.

Bureau de change operator

The suspects are Adeniyi Muyiwa 37, Nwokenta Kingsley a Bureau de change operator also known as Buchito, Onwuasoanya Augustine Chukwuemeka, 54, who lives in Brazil and Christian Okoli Ifor, 35, based in Brazil. Others are Nwokenta Emmanuel Maduakolam, 31, Ezenwa Ikenna, 28, who is a specialist in wrapping and Ezenwa Uzoma, 33, a hotel manager.

Ofoyeju said: “This is the second suspected money laundering case involving a bureau de change operator in two months.”

Operatives of the NDLEA, attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) apprehended the suspects with $156,000 meant for export to Brazil at Excel Oriental Hotel along airport road, Lagos where the dollars were being swallowed.

Ofoyeju said: “Interim investigation report by the anti-narcotics agency revealed that Kingsley is the brain behind the suspected criminal act. He supplied $120,000 to be swallowed and illicitly exported to Brazil. Onwuasoanya Augustine Chukwuemeka swallowed 74 wraps of dollars amounting to $111,000. Christian Okoli Ifor who resides in Brazil had 45, 000 dollars which he wanted to swallow. Nwokenta Emmanuel who is the manager of Amazon Bureau de change played a supportive role in the alleged crime.”

He noted that Ezenwa was hired to wrap the money. The said Ezenwa is believed to have acquired his skill from illicit drug wrapping.

Ofoyeju alleged that Uzoma, the hotel manager, had a strong link with members of the syndicate, stressing that Uzoma wilfully obstructed the officers from discharging their duty.

The illicit exportation of currency by ingestion is a new trend in circumventing money laundering legislation. The agency considers the discovery of United States dollars in wraps similar to narcotic packaging as most revealing.

NDLEA chairman, Ahmadu Giade, has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.