A sum of $193,000 cash concealed in a carton of yoghurt has been intercepted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the Nigeria Customs Service.
The National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement on Friday, said the cash was discovered by officers of the Federal Capital Territory Command.
He explained that the interception which took place on Thursday, was as a result of credible intelligence gathering and a vigilant baggage check on an inbound passenger.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Olumide Adebisi, said the suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina (40), arrived in Nigeria onboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight number 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Adebisi disclosed that acting on credible intelligence, the officers conducted a detailed inspection, which led to the discovery of the concealed funds.
โAround 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 yogurt,โ Adebisi said.
The CAC mentioned that the undeclared cash violates the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, both of which mandate that any traveler in possession of funds exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent in negotiable instruments must declare it to the Nigeria Customs Service upon arrival or departure.
โThe 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,โ he explained.
Adebisi noted that advanced scanning technology played a crucial role in detecting the unusual density of the suspectโs luggage.
He pointed out that when the suspectโs luggage was scanned, an unusual density was detected.
โWe 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 yogurt carton,โ the CAC stated.
Adebisi stated that the intercepted fund was formally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation and prosecution.
โAs required by law, we are handing over the forfeited money to the EFCC for further necessary action,โ Adebisi stated.
He reaffirmed the serviceโs commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across borders.
Adebisi also warned that travelers attempting to bypass financial regulations would face strict legal consequences.
โAll travelers must comply with Nigeriaโs financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when traveling in or out of the country.โ
โThe Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995 provide clear guidelines on currency declaration. Non-compliance with these regulations violates Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties,โ he said.
The CAC further assured that the command will continue collaborating with sister agencies, particularly the EFCC, to strengthen border security and financial crime enforcement.
He urged travelers and stakeholders to remain vigilant and adhere to lawful financial practices.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
