MINISTER OF AVIATION (FESTUS KEYAMO ) RAISES ALARM ON MONEY LAUNDERING AND DRUG TRAFFICKING IN PRIVATE AIRCRAFTS

The Federal Government has issued a warning, claiming that certain well-known Nigerians are involved in illicit activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering and are employing private aircraft for these purposes.

At the “Task Force on Illegal Private Charter Operations and Related Matters” launch in Abuja on Thursday, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo raised the flag.

The Minister bemoaned the fact that drug dealers and money launderers are costing the nation billions of dollars in lost revenue.

The Minister emphasises that the operations of private aircraft owners are not adequately inspected and that the regrettable development has created security and safety concerns. According to Keyamo, the ministry was just made aware of some of the sharp practices being carried out by private aircraft owners by Nuhu Ribadu, the National
Security Adviser.

He pointed out that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, and other regulatory agencies’ operations are hampered by such actions. Because private aircraft owners’ operations have remained largely uncontrolled and undetected, these criminal activities have not only cost the Federal Government a great deal of money, but they have also generated security and safety issues.

Additionally, this has led to the use of these private planes for various illicit purposes.

The National Security Adviser wrote to us last week to inform us of the rise in illicit operations involving the use of private planes in the nation, including drug trafficking, money laundering,
and other crimes, Keyamo
continued.