cash at kano airport (1).webp
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) seized over $1.1 million in undeclared foreign currency at Kano Airport, hidden inside palm-date fruit packs. The suspect, arriving from Saudi Arabia, was handed over to the EFCC, and a court ordered the money’s forfeiture. Authorities urge strict compliance with financial regulations.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted over $1.1 million and 135,900 Saudi Riyals in undeclared cash at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. The money was discovered hidden inside packs of palm-date fruits during a routine baggage check on a passenger arriving from Saudi Arabia.

Authorities identified the traveler as Hauwa Ibrahim Abdullahi, who had landed on Saudi Airline Flight No. SV401. During an inspection, customs officers found the concealed funds, leading to her immediate detention. The seizure aligns with Nigeria's ongoing efforts to curb illicit financial flows and enforce strict financial regulations.

Following the discovery, the suspect and the seized money were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation. A court later convicted the individual, ordering the forfeiture of the funds to the Nigerian government under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.

The Nigeria Customs Service reiterated the importance of declaring large sums of cash when traveling, emphasizing that failure to do so violates financial laws. The agency vowed to continue its crackdown on smuggling and money laundering under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

Travelers are urged to comply with legal financial reporting requirements to avoid prosecution, as the government remains committed to strengthening border security and enforcing financial compliance.