In a major crackdown on financial crimes, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a total of $771,000 in two separate incidents at Lagos and Abuja International Airports.
At the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, customs officials seized $578,000 from a passenger who arrived in Lagos from Johannesburg on South African Airways on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, initially declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk.
The suspect was however discovered to have concealed an additional $299,000, along with 100 Euros and counterfeit $250 notes. This action violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2021, requiring declaration of funds exceeding $10,000. The case was handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
In Abuja, the FCT command of the NCS intercepted $193,000 concealed in a carton of yoghurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, arrived from Jeddah on Ethiopian Airlines. The undeclared cash violated the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, mandating declaration of funds over $10,000. This case was also handed over to the EFCC for further action.
The interception on 20th March 2025, resulted from credible intelligence gathering and a vigilant baggage check on an inbound passenger, the NCS said in a statement.
Speaking to newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Customs Area Controller, Effiong John Harrison stressed the importance of inter-agency collaboration in maintaining economic security and national well-being.
“We have been facing issues with people engaging in activities detrimental to the growth and prosperity of this country. One such set of groups includes currency traffickers, whose actions harm the economy by hindering growth, devaluing our currency, and eroding public trust in the financial system.
“Today, we reaffirm our resolve to the public in arresting and stopping nefarious activities that have brought the country into disrepute with the international community. We are ready and continuously working together as organisations of government to ensure that those who engage in these activities do not use the International Airport in Lagos for their nefarious activities.
“We will continue to promote a situation whereby the country is safe as an investment destination. We want to promote a system whereby investors have confidence to come to Nigeria to do business.”
Acting zonal director of Lagos II for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ACE1 Ahmed Ghali, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for their swift and effective action in apprehending the passenger involved in false currency declaration.
Ghali emphasised the importance of adhering to legal requirements, stating, “I urge members of the public to comply with the law, which requires passengers traveling in or out of Nigeria to declare any cash exceeding $10,000.
Honest and accurate declarations are mandatory and straightforward. Non-compliance, including false or non-declaration, is a crime. Such acts jeopardize our economy, financial systems, and global reputation by exposing us to money laundering risks and sanctions.
“Passengers must understand that declaring their cash ensures accountability. No one will prevent travelers from carrying cash, regardless of the amount, as long as they fulfill the legal requirement of declaring it. Together, we strive to curb financial crimes and bolster Nigeria’s economic integrity.
“As for our collaboration with Customs, I affirm that we maintain a strong working relationship, sharing a common goal of serving our nation and upholding the rule of law. This partnership is essential and ongoing. In cases like this, we follow due process, including investigations into the authenticity of the intercepted currency and its potential connections to money laundering.”
In the Abuja case, the Customs area controller, Olumide Adebisi, disclosed that the suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina (40 years old), arrived in Nigeria onboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Acting on intelligence received earlier in the day, Customs officers conducted a detailed inspection, which led to the discovery of the concealed funds.
“Around the early hours of today, (20th March 2025), 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 explained 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 traveller 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.
“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.
Providing further details on how Customs officers uncovered the smuggled cash, Adebisi noted that advanced scanning technology played a crucial role in detecting the unusual density of the suspect’s luggage.
“When Mr. Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina’s luggage was scanned, we detected an unusual density. 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 said.
Following the seizure, the intercepted $193,000 was formally handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
“As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited money to the EFCC for further necessary action.” Comptroller Adebisi stated.
Reaffirming the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across borders, Comptroller Adebisi warned that travellers attempting to bypass financial regulations would face strict legal consequences.
He said, “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.”
“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 declaration. Non-compliance with these regulations violates Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties.” He added.
The Customs Area Controller further assured that the FCT Command will continue collaborating with sister agencies, particularly the EFCC, to strengthen border security and financial crime enforcement.
He urged travellers and stakeholders to remain vigilant and adhere to lawful financial practices.
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