Between January and July 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported substantial seizures of undeclared currency at airports nationwide, with a total value of $2.209 million.
These interceptions occurred at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.
According to service reports, in March, the Kano airport saw the seizure of $1,154,900 and SR135,900 from a passenger arriving from Saudi Arabia. The funds were concealed within packages of palm dates.
The suspect was apprehended, and the funds were turned over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), leading to a court conviction and forfeiture to the Federal Government.
Other notable incidents include the seizure of $193,000 in undeclared cash at the Abuja airport in March, which was hidden in a carton of yoghurt from a passenger arriving from Jeddah.
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At the Lagos airport, $578,000 in undeclared cash was intercepted from a passenger arriving from South Africa. The passenger had declared $279,000 but was found to have an additional $299,000 concealed.
In July, the Kano airport saw the interception of approximately N653.99 million in foreign currencies from a suspect arriving from Saudi Arabia.
This included $420,900, 3,946,500 West African CFA francs, 224,000 Central African CFA francs, and €5,825. Also, at the Lagos Airport, an outbound passenger was intercepted with $29,000, though only $6,000 had been declared, violating currency declaration regulations.
Mr. Pius Ujubuonu, a leader in the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, attributed the increase in undeclared cash seizures to fiscal policy issues.
