$193,000 Concealed in Yogurt Container Seized at Abuja Airport
$193,000 Concealed in Yogurt Container Seized at Abuja Airport
The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted $193,000 in cash hidden inside a carton of yoghurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer for the service, announced the discovery on Friday, revealing that customs officers from the Federal Capital Territory Command made the find during a routine baggage inspection of an incoming passenger on Thursday.
Customs Area Controller Olumide Adebisi reported that the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, arrived in Nigeria via Ethiopian Airlines Flight 951, which originated from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Adebisi noted that the interception was made possible through credible intelligence and careful inspection of the passenger’s baggage.
“Early in the morning, we received valuable intelligence which guided our officers. By the afternoon, it became clear that Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina had concealed $193,000 within a carton of yoghurt,” Adebisi stated.
He highlighted that carrying undeclared cash above $10,000 breaches the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act of 2023. Both laws require travelers to declare any funds exceeding the limit upon arrival or departure.
“The law is explicit: any individual with over $10,000 must inform Customs. Not doing so may lead to the loss of the funds, with a potential prison sentence of up to two years, or both,” Adebisi emphasized.
Additionally, he credited advanced scanning technology for identifying an irregular density in the suspect’s luggage, which contributed to the discovery of the concealed money.
