Security operatives caught with over $6m at Lagos airport

Nigeria recorded a current account deficit of $424 million in the second quarter of 2021

Several individuals believed to be security operatives were arrested on Saturday at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MM2) in Ikeja, Lagos, after being caught with more than $6.1 million in undeclared cash.

The group was attempting to board an Aero Contractors domestic flight when they were intercepted during routine screening.

While the exact number of suspects remains unclear, multiple sources at the airport confirmed that they were found in possession of several large boxes filled with U.S. dollars. The group had reportedly passed initial security checks without incident.

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However, suspicions were raised by Aero Contractors staff who noticed the unusually heavy boxes near the aircraft.

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“Our security team flagged the baggage due to its size and weight,” said Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of Aero Contractors.

“The individuals refused to check in the luggage and eventually admitted that it contained money, which had not been declared.”

Sanusi added that the men claimed to be security agents escorting a suspect and accompanying evidence, which initially allowed them to bypass certain checks.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.