The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Lagos, on Tuesday handed over N2.3 billion in undeclared foreign currencies to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The funds, comprising €651,505 and $800,575, were seized from an outbound passenger during routine screening at the airport. Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), MMIA Command, Chidi Nwokorie, said the interception was part of the Service’s continued enforcement of customs regulations and its collaboration with sister security agencies.
Nwokorie said the handover further reflected the growing synergy between the NCS and the EFCC in tackling illicit financial flows, noting that effective enforcement thrives on inter-agency cooperation.
He explained that the seizure occurred on Saturday at the Terminal 2 departure hall, when an Austrian national, Mr. Kavlak Onal, with passport number AP0084116, was scheduled to travel to Dubai on Emirates Airline. According to him, the passenger was asked to declare any foreign currency in his possession but responded that he had none.
“Upon search of his travelling bag, undeclared foreign currencies amounting to €651,505 and $800,575 were discovered,” the CAC said.
He noted that the act violated existing laws which require all inbound and outbound travellers to declare foreign currencies or negotiable instruments exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent. He added that the interception was in line with the mandate of the NCS to prevent money laundering and other forms of illicit financial transactions at Nigeria’s borders.
Nwokorie cited relevant legal provisions backing the action, including Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995; Sections 3 (3–5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022; and Section 55 (1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
He clarified that carrying foreign currency above the approved threshold is not an offence, but failure to declare, false declaration or under-declaration constitutes a violation of the law.
The CAC urged travellers and business stakeholders to make full and honest declarations of foreign currency and negotiable instruments above the approved threshold at the Currency Declaration Desks located in the arrival and departure halls of the airport, warning that non-compliance could result in prosecution and forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government.
“With the approval of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the passenger, his international passport and the undeclared currencies are hereby handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and necessary action,” he said.
Nwokorie also announced Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, describing it as a major achievement driven by coordinated leadership among relevant agencies. He said the development reinforced Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework.
Nigeria’s foreign currency declaration policy is aimed at curbing money laundering, terrorism financing, smuggling and other illicit financial flows, while improving transparency and border control. Under Nigerian law, any passenger entering or leaving the country with cash or negotiable instruments exceeding $10,000 must declare it to the Nigeria Customs Service, regardless of whether the funds were lawfully acquired.
