The Nigeria Customs Service intercepted $578,000 falsely declared by a passenger at Lagos Airport, highlighting concerns over illicit financial activities

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, has intercepted a large sum of $578,000 that was falsely declared by an inbound passenger from South Africa.

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The customs authorities made the arrest on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, after the passenger, identified as Mr. Okorie Sunday, arrived in Nigeria with undeclared funds hidden on his person.

Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the command, John Harrison, revealed that Sunday initially declared $279,000 but was found to be carrying an additional $299,000 concealed on his body.

This brought the total amount to $578,000, which far exceeds the legal threshold of $10,000 required to be declared upon entry into the country.

“The passenger was acting suspiciously upon arrival, which led to a thorough search by our officers. He had concealed the money in his body, which is a direct violation of customs regulations,” Harrison explained.

In addition to the hidden cash, Harrison disclosed that Sunday also had £100 and a counterfeit $250 in his possession.

The intercepted money has since been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where it was jointly counted and confirmed by both agencies.

Harrison emphasized the importance of lawful declarations, noting that such actions undermine Nigeria’s financial integrity.

He urged travellers to comply with the law, stressing that customs officers have provided declaration forms at airline counters to ensure passengers can make proper declarations.

Ahmed Ghali, the acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, who received the seized funds, echoed these concerns. He urged the public to avoid engaging in illicit financial activities, advising that any amount over $10,000 be declared as per Nigerian law.

Ghali also warned that failure to declare such amounts exposes the country to risks of money laundering and could tarnish Nigeria’s reputation as a potential hub for illicit financial inflows.