international criminal organization has been
arrested with 108 Automated Teller Machine debit
cards.
Pascal Udeh was arrested at the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while he
was attempting to board a Qatar Airline flight to
China.
The debit cards belong to five commercial banks,
the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said in
a statement on Saturday.
Ahmadu Garba, the NDLEA Commander at the Lagos
airport, said the suspect was arrested in connection
with suspected money laundering and was
immediately transferred to the Assets and Financial
Investigation Directorate of the Agency for
investigation.
According to the agency, First City Monument Bank
had the highest number of cards with 58; Stanbic
IBTC Bank had 23 cards; Zenith Bank, 19; Fidelity
Bank, 6; and Diamond Bank, 2.
Victoria Egbase, the Director of Assets and
Financial Investigation, said the Agency had
established a prima facie case of financial crime
against the suspect and that the Chairman had
ordered the transfer of the case to the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission for further
investigation.
The NDLEA quoted the suspect as saying that he
was asked to take the cards to China.
"I am not the owner of the cards," said Mr. Udeh.
"I was told to take them to China and that somebody
will collect them from me when I get there. I have a
shop where I sell clothes at Onitsha main market.
"I am also a 300-level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe
University Awka, Anambra State studying History
and International Relations. I never knew it would
lead to my arrest.".
The suspect hails from Obibi in Orlu Local
Government Area of Imo State, the NDLEA said.
Ahmadu Giade, the NDLEA Chairman, said the case
should be transferred to the EFCC.
"This is a suspected money laundering case
involving cash transfer with debit cards," said Mr.
Giade.
"The EFCC will carry out further investigation on the
case. We must continue to work together as a
united force against criminal syndicates."
