The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted a cash sum of $578,000 and transferred it to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation following a case of false currency declaration by a traveler.
The suspect, who arrived in Lagos aboard South African Airways from Johannesburg on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, initially declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk. However, a subsequent inspection revealed an additional $299,000 hidden in various packages, bringing the total amount to $578,000. Authorities also discovered 100 euros and a counterfeit $250 in the suspect’s possession.
According to the Customs Service, the suspect’s actions violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2021, which mandates the declaration of any currency or negotiable instruments exceeding $10,000. Due to the false declaration, the suspect was handed over to the relevant authorities for further action.
