The Nigeria Customs Service on Saturday intercepted $193,000 concealed inside a carton of yoghurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The discovery was made following credible intelligence and a thorough baggage inspection by Customs officers of the Federal Capital Territory Command.
The suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, 40, had arrived on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
During the inspection, officers noticed an irregular density in his luggage, which prompted a detailed search, uncovering the undeclared cash.
According to Olumide Adebisi, Customs Area Controller, the act violated both the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023, which mandates travelers to declare amounts exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent. Failure to do so could lead to the forfeiture of funds, a prison sentence, or both.
Adebisi confirmed that the seized funds were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
The Customs official emphasized the importance of compliance with Nigeria’s financial regulations, warning that violators would face strict legal consequences.
He also reiterated the service’s commitment to preventing illicit financial flows and continuing collaborations with relevant agencies to strengthen border security.
