Customs Intercepts Over $1.1 Million, SR135, 900 Undeclared Foreign Currency AT Kano Airport
By Asuquo Nuwak
Customs Intercepts Over $1.1 Million, SR135, 900 Undeclared Foreign Currency AT Kano Airport
The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a total of $1,154,900 million (US Dollars) and SR135,900
(Saudi Riyals) undeclared foreign currency at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
The seizure is reported to have been made recently during a routine baggage check on an inbound passenger, Hauwa Ibrahim Abdullahi, who arrived on Saudi Airline Flight No. SV401 from Saudi Arabia.
The report said, upon the physical examination of the passenger’s luggage conducted by Nigeria Customs Service’s officers, the undeclared currency was discovered concealed within palm-date fruit packs locally referred to as Dabino. This interception, according to Abdullahi Maiwada, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, National Public Relations Officer of the Service, aligns with the Nigeria
Customs Service’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.
The report said, in line with established procedures, the suspect and the seized foreign currency have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for further investigation and necessary legal action.
The report further said, subsequently the court convicted the defendant as charged and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared money to the federal government in line with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.
Beside this, the report said the Service reiterated that all travelers must comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when traveling in or out of the country.
Furthermore, the report revealed that Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995, provide clear guidelines on currency declaration, as non-compliance with these regulations constitutes a violation of Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties.
Moreover, the Service, therefore, called on the public to adhere strictly to these requirements in order to avoid legal consequences.
In addition to this, the report said, under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the Service remains resolute in its enforcement efforts to combat smuggling, illicit financial transactions, and other trans-border crimes.
According to the report, this latest seizure showed the Service’s unwavering dedication to protecting the nation’s economic interests and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
Above all, the report said, the Service will continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to strengthen border security, enhance compliance with financial laws, and safeguard Nigeria’s economy, while travelers and stakeholders in the financial sector are advised to remain vigilant and always adhere to lawful financial practices.
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