Customs Arrest India-bound Passenger With $29,000 At Lagos Airport

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has announced the arrest of an India-bound passenger with undeclared foreign currency totalling $29,000.

The passenger, who was travelling to India via Emirates airline, had falsely declared only $6,000, violating Nigeria’s currency declaration laws.

LEADERSHIP reports that the currency declaration regime states that cross-border movements of cash are monitored while travellers across Nigeria borders, land, air, and sea, are mandated to make declarations when in possession of currencies above $10,000 or equivalent.

However, speaking to LEADERSHIP, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of MMIA, Compt. Effiong Harrison, explained that the passenger was stopped during routine processing by the Customs anti-money laundering unit.

According to the Customs boss, upon questioning, the passenger claimed to have only $6,000, but further scrutiny revealed he was carrying $29,000, constituting a false declaration and a breach of Nigerian financial regulations.

Following the discovery, Customs officials promptly handed over the passenger, the undeclared currency, his passport, and related documents to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.

Harrison emphasised that such actions are part of Customs’ ongoing efforts to prevent activities that could harm Nigeria’s economy, including illicit currency movements.

Head of Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), EFCC, Assistant Commander, Ibinabo Amachree, received the seized funds and documents.

She assured that the EFCC would expedite investigation and prosecution, underscoring the importance of this collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s financial integrity. She highlighted that these efforts contribute towards Nigeria’s goal of exiting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, noting the upcoming FATF evaluation visit as a key motivator for increased vigilance.

Amachree further warned that Nigeria was no longer a haven for illicit funds or unlawful financial activities, signalling a firm stance against violations of currency declaration protocols. Muhammad expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Customs Service for their partnership and pledged continued cooperation to enhance the country’s financial security and international reputation.

Meanwhile, the Customs command had earlier organised a comprehensive briefing involving officers, stakeholders, and the public to raise awareness about currency declaration requirements for incoming and outgoing travellers.

The event featured presentations from the Nigerian Customs Service, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), with airline operators, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Immigration Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and other stakeholders were present.