By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, has intercepted $578,000 in undeclared cash concealed by an inbound passenger arriving from South Africa.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), John Harrison, made this known while addressing journalists on Friday at the command headquarters. He identified the suspect as Mr. Okorie Sunday, who arrived in Nigeria on March 19, 2025, and attempted to smuggle the undeclared cash hidden on his body.
According to Harrison, the suspect’s suspicious behavior upon arrival led officers to conduct a search, uncovering the concealed funds.
“He initially declared only $279,000 but had an additional $299,000 hidden on his body, bringing the total to $578,000. This contravenes the legally approved threshold of $10,000 for undeclared cash transactions,” Harrison explained.
Further inspection also revealed that the suspect carried £100 and counterfeit US dollar bills worth $250. The intercepted funds have since been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
Harrison emphasized that such illegal financial activities undermine Nigeria’s economic integrity. He reminded passengers that declaration forms are available at airline counters and advised them to adhere strictly to financial regulations.
Receiving the seized funds, the acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, cautioned Nigerians against financial misconduct. He warned that failing to declare cash exceeding the $10,000 limit could expose individuals to allegations of money laundering and tarnish the country’s financial reputation.
Ghali assured that the EFCC would investigate the source of the money and verify its authenticity before taking further legal action.
