By Deborah Nnamdi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of 1.1 million U.S. dollars and 135,900 Saudi Riyals at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
Abdullahi Maiwada, the Service’s Spokesperson, revealed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
Maiwada explained that the seizure occurred during a routine baggage check of an inbound passenger arriving on Saudi Airlines Flight No. SV401 from Saudi Arabia.
He explained that during a physical examination of the passenger’s luggage by NCS officers, the undeclared currency was found concealed within packs of palm dates.
The interception, he said, aligned with the NCS’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
“In line with established procedures, the suspect and the seized foreign currency have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and necessary legal action.
“Subsequently, the court convicted the defendant as charged and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared money to the Federal Government in line with provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022,” he said.
He stressed that the NCS is determined to ensure that all travelers comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when traveling in or out of the country.
He stated that the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995 provided clear guidelines on currency declaration.
