The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says its operatives intercepted an undeclared $193,000 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In a statement on Friday, Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS spokesperson, said the undeclared currency was concealed inside a carton of yoghurt.

Maiwada noted that the passenger arrived in Nigeria on an Ethiopian Airlines flight, No. 951, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

He said the undeclared funds violated the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which require travellers carrying over $10,000 or equivalent in negotiable instruments to declare it upon arrival or departure.

“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.

“As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited funds to the EFCC for further necessary action.”

Maiwada reiterated the NCS commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.

He urged travellers to comply with the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when entering or leaving the country.

[TheCable]