Customs Service intercepts N2.9bn at Lagos airport

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, has intercepted $8,065,612 million (about N2.9bn) at the airport, packaged in 20 sealed wraps.

Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of NCS, told journalists at the airport on Tuesday that the consignment was packed in a coaster bus and loaded in six Bagco bags, and asuspect had been arrested in connection with discovery.

According to Ali, the consignment was intercepted at about 1200hrs on January 16, 2020, at the E- Wing of the tarmac of the Lagos Airport.

The next day, Saturday, January 18, 2020, Ali said the service took an inventory of the consignment in the presence of the Directorate of State Security, Customs intelligence unit, anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing unit, the Police, and the suspect, when the value was confirmed.

He said the command was able to intercept the consignment through credible information gathered on the day it was supposed to be moved out of the country.

He explained further that the service was investigating into the consignment, the real owners and cohorts in the attempted smuggling, adding that after thorough investigation, the fund and the arrested suspect would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further interrogation.

He explained that names were written on each wrap of money, which were in $100 denomination.

Ali however noted that it was not a crime to ferry money out of the country, but noted any amount of money in excess of $10,000 must be declared to customs by the owners.

He said: “Currently, the value of the threshold in Nigeria is the equivalent of $10,000 and above. Therefore, all travellers in and out of Nigeria must declare any physical cash in excess of this threshold of $10,000 or equivalent of other currencies or monetary instruments.

“The question is often asked, why do Customs or any agency of government need to know if a private person or company is taking out monies for their personal business out of the country. It is for the reason that illegal criminal activities like international terrorism, drug smuggling, and arms proliferation are financed by illicit cash movements outside the recognised financial systems,” Ali said.

Also commenting, Wale Adeniyi, Customs comptroller of MMIA Command, said since the command was created in August 2019, it had recorded lots of improvements, and pledged it would not relent in its efforts at cleansing the country.

“The management of Customs wanted a better patrol of our airport to ensure laws are followed as regards international travels. One of our intelligence led to the discovery of the latest seizure at the airport,” Adeniyi said.