The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted undeclared foreign currency amounting to 1.1 million U.S. dollars and 135,900 Saudi Riyals at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, NCS Spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada revealed that the seizure occurred during a routine baggage check of an inbound passenger arriving on Saudi Airline Flight No. SV401 from Saudi Arabia.
Maiwada explained that during a physical inspection of the passenger’s luggage, customs officers discovered the undeclared currency concealed within packs of palm dates. He emphasized that this interception aligns with the NCS’s commitment to upholding financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
Following standard procedures, the suspect and the seized currency were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and legal action. The court subsequently convicted the defendant and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared funds to the Federal Government, in accordance with the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.
Maiwada reiterated that the NCS remains resolute in ensuring that all travelers comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when entering or leaving the country.
