The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed Worldwide Airport (MMIA) Command, has handed over $578,000 in seized money to the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) after a passenger falsely declared the quantity on the airport, officers introduced on Friday.
The passenger, a male traveler arriving in Lagos from Johannesburg aboard South African Airways Flight SA60, initially declared $279,000 on the airport’s forex declaration desk.
Nonetheless, throughout a routine inspection, customs officers found a further $299,000 hid in a number of packages, bringing the full sum to $578,000.
Authorities additionally discovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 notice among the many undeclared money.
Effiong Harrison, the Comptroller of MMIA Command, who oversaw the handover to the EFCC, said that the suspect’s actions violated the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011. The legislation mandates that vacationers carrying greater than $10,000 or its equal in any overseas forex should declare it to customs officers.
“This can be a clear violation of Nigeria’s {financial} rules,” Harrison stated. “Vacationers should declare any money exceeding $10,000. The suspect failed to take action, concealing a big sum in an try and evade scrutiny. His failure to conform has led to the forfeiture of the funds and additional investigation.”
Harrison famous that the suspect’s worldwide passport and different related paperwork had additionally been handed over to the EFCC for crucial authorized motion.
Customs officers pressured that {financial} crimes comparable to cash laundering threaten Nigeria’s economic system and undermine investor confidence. Harrison reiterated the command’s dedication to imposing the legislation and stopping illicit {financial} flows via Lagos’ worldwide airport.
“We’re working to make sure that Nigeria stays a secure and credible funding vacation spot,” Harrison stated. “Violations like this not solely tarnish our repute but in addition affect our {financial} establishments. We can’t enable people to abuse the system for private acquire.”
“Nobody is prohibited from carrying money, however full disclosure is required,” Ghali stated. “Trustworthy declaration is necessary, whatever the quantity. If vacationers observe the right procedures, they won’t encounter any points. Nonetheless, any try and evade these rules will probably be met with the total power of the legislation.”
As enforcement companies proceed to tighten rules, officers urge vacationers to adjust to {financial} reporting legal guidelines to keep away from authorized penalties. The case stays below investigation.
