The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported that at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, its agents seized an undeclared $193,000.
The NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, said in a statement on Friday that the undeclared money was hidden inside a yoghurt carton.
According to Maiwada, the traveller travelled from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Nigeria aboard Ethiopian Airlines aircraft No. 951.
According to him, the unreported payments were in violation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, which mandate that travellers who possess $10,000 or more in negotiable instruments disclose them when they arrive or depart.
“Acting on intelligence, customs officers conducted a detailed inspection, leading to the discovery of the concealed cash,” the statement reads.
“The seized money has been formally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
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“As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited funds to the EFCC for further necessary action.”
Maiwada reaffirmed the NCS’s dedication to upholding financial laws and stopping unauthorised money transfers across Nigerian borders.
He reminded tourists that when they enter or exit the nation, they are legally required to report any cash or negotiable instruments that exceed the authorised limits.
