ZCZC
BSP-22
RUSSIA-NIGERIA-FIFA-AVIATION-CRIME
Ex-Arsenal footballer Kanu robbed of $11,000 at Moscow airport
MOSCOW, June 4, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu had
$11,000 (9,300 euros) stolen from his suitcase at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo
airport on his way to playing in a friendly match organised by FIFA, TASS
reported.
Kanu, 41, who captained the Nigerian national team and played for Arsenal
and Inter Milan, was robbed as he transferred to a flight to Kaliningrad at
Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport after arriving from London, the state news
agency reported Sunday.
TASS quoted Russian police as saying that they detained two baggage
handlers who were unloading luggage from the London flight and stole the
money from checked-in luggage.
“The stolen money has been confiscated and will shortly be returned to its
owner,” police spokeswoman Irina Volk said. Police confirmed to TASS that the
luggage belonged to Kanu.
Moscow and Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave, will both host World Cup matches
in a tournament that will see thousands of international fans travelling
between the 11 host cities. Starting Monday, fans with tickets can travel to
Russia visa-free. The first teams will also arrive in Russia this week.
Kanu played in Kaliningrad in a special “Relive the Legends” friendly match
on Sunday as part of a team of FIFA Legends against a team of Russian
veterans. Kanu’s team won 6-4.
Sheremetyevo saw a similar crime in March when a baggage handler was
arrested and admitted stealing 56,000 euros from a package belonging to a
Moscow bank.
BSS/AFP/MRI/1617 hrs