The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted an undeclared sum of $193,000 hidden inside a carton of yogurt at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, officials announced on Friday.
Intelligence-Led Operation Uncovers Concealed Cash
The suspect, a passenger on Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, failed to declare the cash upon arrival, violating Nigeria’s financial regulations.
According to NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, the seizure was the result of a targeted intelligence operationand a detailed baggage inspection.
“Acting on intelligence, Customs officers carried out a thorough examination, leading to the discovery of the concealed cash,” Maiwada said.
Violation of Financial Regulations
Under Nigerian law, travelers carrying more than $10,000 in cash or negotiable instruments must declare the amount to Customs upon arrival or departure.
The suspect’s failure to do so contravenes:
- The Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022
- The Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023
Using advanced scanning technology, Customs officials flagged the suspect’s luggage due to unusual density in the yogurt carton. Upon further inspection, officers uncovered the hidden cash.
“The use of modern detection technology was instrumental in uncovering this attempt to move large sums of money undeclared,” Maiwada added.
Funds Handed Over to EFCC for Investigation
Following the seizure, the NCS transferred the money to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)for further investigation and possible prosecution.
“As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited funds to the EFCC for further necessary action,”Maiwada confirmed.
The EFCC, Nigeria’s top anti-corruption agency, is responsible for investigating money laundering, illicit financial flows, and related crimes.
Government’s Crackdown on Illicit Financial Flows
This seizure is part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to combat financial crimes and enhance border security. Authorities have intensified enforcement against the smuggling of undeclared funds to prevent:
- Money laundering
- Terrorism financing
- Other financial crimes
Regulators have urged travelers to comply with declaration requirements to avoid legal consequences.
Similar Seizure at Lagos Airport
The Abuja seizure follows another major case at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, where Customs officials recently handed over $578,000 in seized cash to the EFCC.
In that incident, a male traveler arriving from Johannesburg on South African Airways Flight SA60 initially declared $279,000 at the currency declaration desk. However, a subsequent inspection revealed an additional $299,000 hidden in multiple packages, bringing the total to $578,000.
Authorities also discovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 note among the undeclared cash.
Effiong Harrison, Comptroller of the MMIA Command, confirmed that the suspect’s actions violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011, which mandates the declaration of amounts exceeding $10,000.
Stricter Financial Enforcement at Nigerian Airports
With authorities tightening financial regulations at Nigeria’s international airports, officials have warned that failure to declare large sums of cash could lead to:
- Immediate seizure
- Criminal prosecution
- Forfeiture of funds
The Nigerian government remains committed to curbing illicit financial flows and ensuring compliance with international anti-money laundering standards.
Leave a Reply