FCT COMMAND INTERCEPTS $193,000 IN CARTON OF YOGHURT

FCT COMMAND INTERCEPTS $193,000 IN CARTON OF YOGHURT.

BY Joe Njoku,
Global Freight News.

The Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted $193,000 undeclared foreign currency concealed in a carton of yogurt at that Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The seizure on Thursday 20th March 2025 was as a result of credible intelligence gathering and a vigilant baggage check on an inbound passenger.

Speaking with newsmen at the Airport International Wing, the Area Controller, Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, disclosed that the suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina (40 years old) arrived in Nigeria on board Ethiopian Airlines Flight No 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Acting on intelligence received earlier in the day, Customs Officers conducted a detailed inspection, which led to the discovery of the concealed currency.

According to the Comptroller, ” Around the early hours of today, we received an important report, which proved very helpful. This afternoon from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Sarina, who boarded Ethiopian Airlines Flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia was found concealing a total of $193,000 inside a carton of yogurt,” he said.

He further explained that the undeclared foreign currency violates the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, both of which mandate that any traveler in possession of of funds exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent in negotiating instruments must declare it to the Nigeria Customs Service upon arrival or departure.

“The law clearly states that if a person has funds above $10,000, they must declare it to Customs. Failure to do so could result in the forfeiture of the undeclared foreign currency, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both,” he said.

Providing further details on how Customs Officers uncovered the smuggled cash, he noted that advanced scanning technology played a crucial role in detecting the unusual density of the suspect’s luggage.

“When Mr. Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina’s luggage was scanned, we detected an unusual density. We allowed him to proceed but closely monitored his baggage. Upon further inspection, we discovered that the density was irregular, so we instructed him to return. In his presence, we checked the package and found the undeclared foreign currency hidden inside the yogurt carton,” he said.

Following the seizure, the intercepted $193,000 was formerly handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.

As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited money to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further necessary action,” he added

Reaffirming the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to enforcing financial regulations and preventing illicit financial flows across borders, Comptroller Adebisi warned that, travelers attempting to bypass financial regulations would face strict legal consequences.

According to him, All travelers must comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when traveling in or out of the country.”

“The Money Laundering (prevention and prohibition) Act 2022 and the Foreign Exchange )Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995 provide clear guidelines on currency declaration. Non-compliance with these regulations violates Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties,” he added.

The Customs Area Controller further assured that the FCT Command will continue collaborating with sister security agencies, particularly the EFCC, to strengthen border security and financial crime enforcement. He therefore urged travelers and stakeholders to remain vigilant and adhere to lawful financial practices.

However, he expressed his appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR for creating an enabling working environment for officers and men of the command and the entire service which has engaged operational efficiency.