 have seized $193,000 in cash hidden inside a yogurt carton at Nnamdi){kind=link}
Officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have seized $193,000 in cash hidden inside a yogurt carton at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
According to a statement by the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, the money was intercepted by officers from the Federal Capital Territory Command during a routine baggage inspection on Thursday.
Customs Area Controller Olumide Adebisi revealed that the suspect, 40-year-old Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, arrived in Nigeria aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Based on intelligence, customs officers conducted a detailed examination of his luggage, which led to the discovery of the undeclared funds.
Adebisi explained that the act violated the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023, which require passengers carrying more than $10,000 to declare it upon arrival or departure.
Failure to do so could lead to forfeiture, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
Advanced scanning technology was instrumental in detecting anomalies in the suspect’s luggage.
“The unusual density of the baggage raised suspicion, prompting a detailed search that uncovered the cash,” Adebisi stated.
The seized funds have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and legal action.
The NCS reiterated its commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illegal money transfers.
Travellers were urged to comply with the country’s currency declaration laws, as any attempt to circumvent them would result in strict legal consequences.