New York, Decemer 3, 2007---Africans In America Newswatch has been reliably informed that Nigeria and perhaps United States governments may have begun investigation of international smuggling ring based in Lagos, Nigeria and New York City in United States.

This followed a petition by U.S. based human rights and anti-corruption crusader who had fallen victim of the smuggling ring in June 2006.

Africans In America Newswatch investigation reveals that in about June 2006, a Nigeria-American operating a shipping business in New York City presenting self as genuine business person gained the trust of a fellow Nigerian-American to ship a vehicle to a destination in one of the African nations. The shipping agent presented a hitch-free business terms and best services for which the unsuspecting customer paid in full.

However, the bone of contention which the Nigerian, and perhaps in conjunction with the United States government may be trying to crack is how the vehicle which left United States port with correct title and purchase documents ended up in the street of Nigeria with fake or no Nigeria customs and registration papers in July 2006. This vehicle was seized by the officers of Nigeria Customs on Nigerian road and parked at Ikeja office on the suspicion that the vehicle was not duly cleared by Nigeria Customs and was not duly registered in Lagos State. The Customs claimed that the clearing and registration papers were all fake.

For one year the human rights and anti-corruption crusader had been seeking explanation from the shipping agent and getting run-around and shabby response. Occasionally, the shipping agent bragged about connections at high echelon of Nigeria Customs; “You cannot do me anything, I have connections all the way to Customs Headquarters, Abuja”; “I have faced many bigger challenges before and nothing happened, few years ago one of my drivers ‘flying’ cars for me from Benin Republic into Nigeria was killed by the Nigeria law enforcement officers while trying to beat their check points. Though it was a big case, I ‘killed’ that case with my connections, therefore I am not afraid of anything”, shouted the U. S.-based shipping agent.

With the full cooperation of everyone (notably the U.S.-based human rights and anti-corruption crusader, the U.S.-based shipping agent and the shipping agent’s associates in Nigeria) this case could shed some lights into economic and financial crimes, and corruption of the Nigerian law enforcement.

Nigeria and United States have bilateral cooperation agreement on crimes and law enforcement matters. Africans In America Newswatch has been reliably informed that that investigation has begun to uncover the network in Nigeria and United States.