Customs intercepts undeclared $193,000 hidden in yoghurt carton at Abuja airport
Tolulope Popoola
Customs intercepts undeclared $193,000
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted an undeclared sum of $193,000 concealed inside a yoghurt carton at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement on Friday, NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada said the passenger carrying the concealed cash arrived in Nigeria aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight No. 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Acting on intelligence, customs officers conducted a detailed inspection, leading to the discovery of the concealed cash,” the statement read.
Maiwada noted that the undeclared funds violated the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which mandate travellers carrying more than $10,000 or its equivalent to declare it upon arrival or departure.
“The seized money has been formally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he added.
He reiterated the NCS’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
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