The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted $193,000 undeclared foreign currency concealed in a carton of yoghurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The interception was as a result of credible intelligence gathering and a vigilant baggage check on an inbound passenger.
Addressing newsmen at the airport’s International Wing, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, disclosed that the suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, 40, arrived in Nigeria on board an Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Acting on intelligence received earlier in the day, Customs officers conducted a detailed inspection, which led to the discovery of the concealed funds.
He explained that the undeclared cash violates the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, both of which mandate that any traveller in possession of funds exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent in negotiable instruments must declare it to the Nigeria Customs Service upon arrival or departure.
“The law clearly states that if a person has funds above $10,000, they must declare it to Customs. Failure to do so could result in the forfeiture of the money, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both.” He explained.
Following the seizure, the intercepted $193,000 was formally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
The Sun Nigeria
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