The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted $193,000 in cash concealed inside a carton of yogurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the interception was made by officers of the Federal Capital Territory Command based on credible intelligence and vigilant baggage checks on an inbound passenger.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, Olumide Adebisi, identified the suspect as Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, a 40-year-old passenger who arrived in Nigeria on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Adebisi explained that upon receiving an intelligence report, customs officers carried out a detailed inspection of Sarina’s luggage, leading to the discovery of the hidden cash.
“Around the early hours of today, we received an intelligence report, which proved very helpful. This afternoon, one Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, who boarded Ethiopian Airlines from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was found concealing a total sum of $193,000 inside a carton of yoghurt,” Adebisi said.
He further stated that the undeclared cash violated the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which require travelers carrying amounts exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent to declare it to customs authorities.
“The law clearly states that if a person has funds above $10,000, they must declare it to Customs. Failure to do so could result in the forfeiture of the money, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both,” he explained.
Adebisi emphasised that advanced scanning technology was instrumental in detecting irregularities in the suspect’s luggage.
“We allowed him to proceed but closely monitored his baggage. Upon further inspection, we discovered that the density was irregular, so we instructed him to return. In his presence, we checked the package and found the undeclared money hidden inside the yoghurt carton,” he stated.
The seized cash has been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
“As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited money to the EFCC for further necessary action,” Adebisi said.
He reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
“All travellers must comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when travelling in or out of the country,” he warned.
Adebisi added that relevant financial laws, including the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995, provide clear guidelines on currency declarations, stressing that non-compliance attracts severe penalties.
He assured that the NCS would continue collaborating with agencies like the EFCC to enhance border security and combat financial crimes.
The customs boss urged travelers and stakeholders to remain vigilant and adhere to lawful financial practices.
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