The Nigeria Customs Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command handed over $578,000 seized from a male passenger to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The comptroller in charge of the MMIA command, Effiong Harrison, handed over the foreign currency to the EFCC in Lagos on Friday and said the money was falsely declared by the passenger at the airport.

Mr Harrison, who handed over the intercepted currency following the directive of the comptroller-general of customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said the suspect’s action was in contravention of the provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

The command head said the passenger’s passport and other relevant documents were also handed over to the EFCC for necessary action.

He said, “The suspect (name withheld), a male passenger with passport number A13384205, arrived on board a South African Airways Flight SA60 from Johannesburg on Wednesday.

“He approached the currency declaration desk and declared a total of $279,000. Upon examination, an additional sum of $299,000 was discovered neatly concealed in different packages. Thereby bringing the total sum to $578,000. Also concealed was €100 and a counterfeit $250. This is in contravention of the provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

“This act stipulates that any currency or other forms of negotiable instruments where the value exceeds the $10,000 threshold or its equivalent must be properly declared for inbound and outbound passengers,” he said.

Mr Harrison said the command was committed to arresting and stopping unlawful activities that brought the country into disrepute.

He said customs was ready and continuously working as an organisation of the government to ensure that those who are engaged in money laundering do not use the international airport in Lagos for their criminal activities.

“We are working for the safety of all our financial institutions in this country. People are not comfortable with what is going on. The economic policies are not being adhered to, and we are losing revenue because of the activities of people like this. So, they are undermining the integrity of the financial institutions.

“The suspect should have told the truth and declared accordingly. But he did not, and so he has contravened the law. We have him to hand over to the relevant government agency, which is represented here today; hand over the money, his travelling documents and all other information that he has given us voluntarily to the EFCC for further investigation,” Mr Harrison said.

While receiving the suspect and the foreign currencies, the acting director of the Lagos Office 2 of the EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, commended the efforts of the comptroller and officers.

Mr Ghali urged members of the public to be wary of such acts, adding that the provision of the law was very clear on money declaration.

He explained that passengers were allowed to carry along $10,000, and any additional money would be declared.

Mr Ghali said that what the law required from the traveller was an honest declaration.

“Nobody will stop you from travelling with your cash in as much as you declare, no matter the amount,” he said.

(NAN)