Customs Intercepts Passenger With Undeclared $1.1M, SR135,900 at Kano Airport

.Court Orders Forfeiture of Seized Currency to FG as NCS Handed Over Culprit to EFCC

ZAINAB JUNAID

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, recently intercepted a passenger arriving from Saudi Arabia with undeclared foreign currency worth $1,154,900 (One Million, One Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand, Nine Hundred US Dollars) and SR135,900 (One Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred Saudi Riyals) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

This was revealed in a statement issued by the Service’s Spokesman, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada on Thursday, 13 March, 2025.

Seized Currency

According to the statement, a routine baggage inspection by Customs Officers at Kano Airport uncovered the undeclared currency hidden in palm-date fruit packs, known as Dabino, in the luggage of Hauwa Ibrahim Abdullahi, a passenger arriving on Saudi Airline Flight No. SV401 from Saudi Arabia.

This interception, Maiwada said, aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.

“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.

“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,” Maiwada added.

Following the seizures, the Nigeria Customs Service reiterated the importance of complying with Nigeria’s financial regulations. Specifically, travelers must declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when entering or leaving the country.

This requirement is mandated by the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995, which provide clear guidelines on currency declaration.

Suspect

The Service warned that failure to comply with these regulations would be considered a violation of Nigerian law, attracting severe penalties. Therefore, the public is urged to adhere strictly to the laid-down requirements to avoid legal consequences.

“Under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the NCS remains resolute in its enforcement efforts to combat smuggling, illicit financial transactions, and other trans-border crimes. This latest seizure highlights the Service’s unwavering dedication to protecting the nation’s economic interests and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.

“The NCS will continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to strengthen border security, enhance compliance with financial laws, and safeguard Nigeria’s economy. Travelers and stakeholders in the financial sector are advised to remain vigilant and always adhere to lawful financial practices,” the statement read.