The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) claims to have intercepted 1.1 million US dollars and 135,900 Saudi Riyals at Kano’s Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. Its spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
Maiwada stated that the seizure occurred recently during a normal luggage check on an inbound passenger on Saudi Airline Flight No. SV401 from Saudi Arabia. He explained that after a physical search of the passenger’s luggage by NCS personnel, the undeclared money was discovered hidden behind packs of palm dates. The interception, he added, was consistent with the NCS’s commitment to upholding financial legislation and stopping illegal cash flows across Nigerian borders.
“In accordance with established procedures, the suspect and the seized foreign currency were 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 accordance with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022,” he stated.
He emphasised that the NCS is committed to ensuring that all travellers comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to disclose any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the allowed level when entering or exiting the nation.
He noted that the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995 established clear criteria for currency declaration.
