EFCC, NCC move to crush piracy, money laundering links in South-East
Quick Read
“Nobody has ever thought that pirated works are used to launder money. People travel outside the country, get involved in drug related -crimes and they will use the money to make pirated copies of major publishers and get them shipped here. By doing so, they are laundering money,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have agreed to deepen their joint offensive against piracy and intellectual property theft in the South-East, warning that the criminal trade now serves as a money-laundering channel for drug syndicates and even terror groups.
The resolution followed a visit by the Enugu State Coordinator of the NCC, Mr. Macfoy Akachukwu, to the EFCC Enugu Zonal Director, CE Daniel Isei, on Wednesday.
Akachukwu, who acknowledged years of cooperation between both agencies, said piracy had become a major criminal pipeline.
“Nobody has ever thought that pirated works are used to launder money. People travel outside the country, get involved in drug related -crimes and they will use the money to make pirated copies of major publishers and get them shipped here. By doing so, they are laundering money,” he said.
He explained that the NCC routinely relies on EFCC facilities and asset-freezing powers during investigations, stressing that the visit was aimed at strengthening existing synergy. “Anytime we call upon you, please, continue to assist us,” he appealed.
Responding, Isei described piracy as a “predicate offence to money laundering” and vowed deeper collaboration in intelligence sharing and investigations.
“If it is on the basis of information sharing, we’re ready to receive, we’re ready to give. If it is on the basis of investigation, we are ready to support in any way we can support,” he said, adding that piracy’s damage to Nigeria’s economy is far-reaching.
“What we, at the EFCC stand for is to have an economy that is resilient, an economy that is enduring and sustaining and that is why the issue of piracy is important for us to deal with. What intellectual property theft does to people is unimaginable,” he added.
Isei emphasized that collaboration remains a core EFCC value and assured the NCC of steadfast support in the fight to rid the region of piracy and IP theft.
Comments