By Correspondent in Lagos.
Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, have intercepted and confiscated $29,000 in undeclared cash from two Indian nationals attempting to board an Emirates flight to India.
Our correspondent reports that the suspects, both male, were caught after alleged falsely declaring only $6,000 at the airport’s Currency Declaration Desk on Tuesday. A subsequent search revealed an additional $23,000 concealed in their luggage, raising the total to $29,000,far above the legal threshold for undeclared cash movement.
Speaking during the handover of the seized currency to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Customs Area Comptroller, Effiong Harrison, said the action violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.
“The law stipulates that any cash or negotiable instrument exceeding $10,000 must be declared. These suspects concealed funds in various packages to evade detection,” Harrison said.
In addition to the seized money, the passengers’ international passports and travel documents were also handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Harrison emphasized the Service’s commitment to stemming the tide of financial crimes and illegal currency trafficking through Nigerian borders, especially at international airports.
“This command will continue to work closely with relevant agencies to ensure Nigeria is not used as a conduit for money laundering and illicit financial flows,” he said.
Receiving the suspects and the recovered cash, EFCC representative, Mrs. Amachree Ibinabi, on behalf of the Acting Director of EFCC Lagos Office 2, Mr. Ahmed Ghali, commended the customs operatives for their vigilance.
Ahmed reminded the public that travelers are allowed to move with up to $10,000 without declaration, but any amount exceeding that must be honestly declared to avoid prosecution.
“No one is restricted from carrying large sums of money, but failure to declare constitutes a criminal offense. This case will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted according to the law,” the added said.
He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to enforcing anti-money laundering laws and urged travelers to comply with all financial disclosure requirements to avoid legal trouble.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
