Customs records cash haul at Lagos Airport - seizes $8m cash from currency traffickers

Abiola Seun & Segun Oladipupo

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a whopping $8,061,000(N2.9billion at the prevailing rate of N360/$) from suspected currency traffickers.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday, the Comptroller General of the Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) said the currency was intercepted in a bus belonging to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) at the airport tarmac.

But, NAHCO, in a statement made available by the spokesman, Tayo Ajakaye stated that they have no connection whatsoever with this alleged act.

The Company however disclosed that they have initiated contact with the Nigerian Customs Service’ hierarchy to provide it with details of the incident.

The CGC who said after the preliminary investigations, the money will be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigations stated that a suspect has been arrested so far.

According to Col. Ali, “While provisions are made for various forms of International electronic transfers, exceptions are made for those who prefer to travel across borders with cash and other monetary instruments.

“When this happens, those who carry physical cash across borders are obliged by law to make declaration of such movement once the value is above the approved threshold.”

“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 its equivalent in any other currencies or monetary instruments.”

“Acting on such credible information, the MMIA Command of Customs on the 16th of January, 2020 intercepted illegal movement of foreign currency at the ‘E’ Wing of the airport Tarmac.

“The consignment packed in a coaster bus belonging to NAHCO Aviance was loaded in six BAGCO bags and were found not to have been declared at any approved point of entry or exit where voluntary declarations are recorded and maintained. One suspect, the driver of the bus, Chimezie Okonkwo was immediately arrested and taken into custody with the intercepted consignment.”

“On Saturday, 18th of January, 2020, an inventory of the consignment was taken and was witnessed by representatives of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), Customs Intelligence Unit, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Unit, Customs Police and the suspect.”

“At the end of the inventory, a total number of 20 sealed wraps of BAGCO bags were opened, counted, re-sealed and re-wrapped under video coverage from the beginning of the exercise to the end, and the total amount intercepted stood at $8,065,612only.

“The consignment remains in safe custody while preliminary investigations have commenced on the seizures.

The CGC, however commended the Customs Area Comptroller of the command, Compt. Wale Adeniyi and his officers for a job well done and the acting CAC of the Federal Operations Unit, Usman Yahyah who seized 147 bags of pangolin worth N10.2billion.

However, Ajakaye had said in the statement that the company is a responsible corporate organisation, NAHCO will cooperate with all regulators to get to the root of the matter.

“The attention of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company plc (NAHCO AVIANCE) has been brought to a press conference earlier today by the Comptroller – General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) Col. Hammed Alli (rtd) to the effect that a vehicle belonging to NAHCO was intercepted with some cash in foreign currencies as it conveyed the money to an aircraft at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.”

“We wish to state unequivocally that NAHCO as an organization has no connection whatsoever with this alleged act. The Company has initiated contact with the Nigerian Customs Service’ hierarchy to provide it with details of this incident.”

“As a responsible corporate organisation, NAHCO will cooperate with all regulators, agencies and other stakeholders in not only finding out the truth about this unfortunate incident, but also rooting out malpractices in the sector.”

“The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company does not condone irresponsible and criminal behaviour. The Company takes seriously the trust of its esteemed clients, partners and other stakeholders, both local and international, and will do everything to protect that trust.”