The Customs Service of Nigeria, NCS, has intercepted $ 1,154,900 and SR135.900 in foreign currency not declared at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
NCS spokesman Abdullahi Maiwada revealed this in a statement on Thursday.
Maiwada said the seizure was recently carried out during a routine luggage control in an incoming passenger, Hauwa Ibrahim Abdullahi, who reached the flight of the Saudi airline No. SV401 from Saudi Arabia.
The Customs spokesman added that during the physical examination of the passenger luggage, made by NCS officers, the unplocked currency was discovered hidden within the fruit packages of the date of the palm, known locally as Dabino.
According to him, the interception is aligned with the commitment of the NCS to enforce financial regulations and prevent illicit financial flows through the borders of Nigeria.
“In line with the established procedures, the suspect and the seized foreign currency have been delivered to the Commission of Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) for greater investigation and necessary legal actions.
“Subsequently, the Court condemned the accused as accused and ordered the confiscation of the money not declared to the Federal Government online with the provisions of the Money Laundering Law (Prevention and Prohibition) of 2022.
“The service reiterates that all travelers must comply with the financial regulations of Nigeria, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments that exceed the approved threshold when traveling inside or outside the country,” reads the statement.