Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted $1,154,900 and SR135,900 in undeclared foreign currency at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano State.
The seizure was made during a routine baggage check on an inbound passenger, Hauwa Ibrahim Abdullahi, who arrived from Saudi Arabia on Saudi Airline Flight No. SV401.
According to NCS spokesman Abdullahi Maiwada, the undeclared currency was discovered concealed within palm-date fruit packs, locally referred to as Dabino. The interception underscores the NCS’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and curbing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
The discovery was made during a physical examination of the passenger’s luggage. Maiwada stated that the suspect and the seized funds have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and legal action. He emphasized that the interception aligns with the NCS’s mandate to combat smuggling and other trans-border crimes.
The NCS also reiterated the importance of compliance with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995. These laws require travelers to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when entering or leaving the country. Non-compliance attracts severe penalties, including forfeiture of undeclared funds.
