Festus Keyamo: Private Jets Are Used for Money Laundering and Drug Trafficking
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has claimed that some private aircraft in Nigeria are being used for money laundering, drug trafficking, and other illegal activities.
Keyamo made this statement at the Ministry of Aviation in Abuja on Thursday, June 27, while inaugurating a Ministerial Taskforce Committee to curb illegal charter operations in the country.
Although he did not name the airlines, he noted that these illegal activities have cost the sector billions of dollars and posed significant security risks.
The Minister further explained that some individuals involved in these illegal activities hold licenses for non-commercial flight operations but have violated the terms of their licenses.
Addressing the committee, Keyamo instructed them to take inventory of all non-commercial flight operators, investigate all professional licenses for authenticity, and recommend disciplinary measures against any airlines found guilty.
Last week, the National Security Adviser wrote to us, alerting us of the spike in money laundering, drug trafficking and other illegal activities through the use of private aircraft in the country.
It appears that Private Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) operators have become increasingly emboldened, continuing their illegal operations with the assistance of Air Operator Certificate (AOC) holders who collect tolls and list these illegal charters under their AOCs.
We have received alarming reports that some crew members have not attended mandatory simulator trainings for nearly three years and are flying with fraudulently-obtained renewed licenses.
Many of these individuals are operating planes registered under PNCF but are conducting illegal charter operations with impunity.” he said
The eight-man committee was chaired by the Chief Executive Office of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, and the committee is expected to report all findings to the minister within the next three months.
