The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, has handed over undeclared $20,000 and 110,000 West African CFA Francs to officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Announcing this in a statement on Wednesday, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Hussaini Abdullahi, described the interception as a significant breakthrough in the service’s ongoing efforts to combat the movement of illicit financial flows within the country.
He explained that the monies were intercepted on Sunday, at approximately 23:45 hours. According to the Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Mohammed Shuaibu, the unit’s patrol team was on routine surveillance along the Babapupa bush paths near the Seme Border when they intercepted a Nissan Almera suspected to be a smuggled vehicle.
He added that upon sighting the officers, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into the bush to evade arrest.
“An examination of the vehicle revealed the concealment of the sum of $20,000 and 110,000 West African CFA Francs, with a total estimated value of N30.8m. This arrest underscores the relentless commitment of our personnel to thwart the activities of illicit financial flow operators and protect the Nigerian economy. It reflects our concerted efforts to combat smuggling and restore law and order along our borders,” Shuaibu said.
The CAC highlighted that the interception aligns with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, “both of which mandate the declaration of any currency exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent at the country’s borders.”
He also reiterated the service’s commitment to stakeholder education, emphasising that the service recently launched a robust sensitisation campaign to educate stakeholders on the legal requirements for currency declaration at the borders.
Shuaibu urges stakeholders and the public to leverage these initiatives to safeguard their hard-earned income. He commended officers of the command for their dedication, reiterating that the unit remains vigilant in its mission to eradicate smuggling.
“In line with the NCS’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, the seized currencies have been handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he stated.
Receiving the seized currency, an Assistant Director with EFCC, Shehu Mohammed, who represented the Zonal Coordinator, commended the service for the interception.
“This seizure and subsequent handover of undeclared foreign currency highlight the strong synergy between our agencies and our joint commitment to enforcing financial laws in Nigeria. The EFCC will conduct a thorough investigation to identify the individuals involved and determine the appropriate legal action,” he said.
