The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday, intercepted undeclared $193,000 concealed in a carton of yoghurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.
The seizure was made following credible intelligence gathering and a vigilant baggage check on an inbound passenger.
Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, the Customs Area Controller while addressing newsmen at the airport’s international wing, revealed that the suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, 40, arrived in Nigeria onboard 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.
“Around the early hours of today, we received an intelligence report, which proved very helpful. This afternoon, one Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, who boarded Ethiopian Airlines from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was found concealing a total sum of $193,000 inside a carton of yoghurt.” Comptroller Adebisi said.
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 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,” the Comptroller explained.
Adebisi disclosed that advanced scanning technology played a crucial role in detecting the unusual density of the suspect’s luggage.
“When Mr. Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina’s luggage was scanned, we detected an unusual density. We allowed him to proceed but closely monitored his baggage. Upon further inspection, we discovered that the density was irregular, so we instructed him to return. In his presence, we checked the package and found the undeclared money hidden inside the yoghurt carton,” he remarked.
“As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited money to the EFCC for further necessary action,” Comptroller Adebisi stated, and reaffirmed Customs’ commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across borders.
He warned that travellers attempting to bypass financial regulations would face strict legal consequences, stressing that “All travellers must comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when travelling in or out of the country.”
“The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995 provide clear guidelines on currency declaration. Non-compliance with these regulations violates Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties,” the FCT Customs boss declared.
He assured that the Command will continue collaborating with sister agencies, particularly the EFCC, to strengthen border security and financial crime enforcement.
Adebisi urged travellers and stakeholders to remain vigilant and adhere to lawful financial practices.
He expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for creating an enabling working environment for officers and men of the Command and the entire Service, adding that “it has enhanced operational efficiency.”
