Customs Hands Over Arrested Traveler, Undecleared Currencies Worth ₦2b to EFCC at Lagos Airport
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Lagos, has handed over seized undeclared foreign currencies amounting to €651,505 and $800,575 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).. The monies were estimated to be above ₦2b going by current exchange rate
The Customs Area Controller at the command, Comptroller Chidi Nwokoriei, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos, describing the action as part of Customs’ sustained efforts to combat illicit financial flows and strengthen Nigeria’s economic integrity and security.
Nwokorie also commended the Federal Government on Nigeria’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, attributing the achievement to the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and effective collaboration among relevant government agencies.
He praised officers of the command, particularly those in the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Unit, for what he described as professionalism, discipline and integrity in intercepting the funds.
According to him, the seizure was made at about 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the Terminal 2 Departure Hall of the airport. He said the funds were intercepted from an Austrian national, Mr. Kavlak Onal, who was scheduled to travel to Dubai aboard an Emirates Airlines flight.
Nwokorie explained that the passenger had denied carrying any currency for declaration when questioned by Customs officers, but a subsequent search of his luggage revealed the undeclared foreign currencies. He noted that the total sum, valued at about ₦2.28 billion, exceeded the legally approved declaration threshold.
The CAC said the action was in line with existing laws empowering the NCS to prevent money laundering and other financial crimes, including the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995; the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022; and the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
He clarified that carrying foreign currency above $10,000 or its equivalent is not an offence, but failure to declare, false declaration or under-declaration constitutes a violation of the law.
Comptroller Nwokorie urged travellers engaged in legitimate business to make full and honest declarations of foreign currencies and negotiable instruments at designated declaration desks at airports, warning that offenders risk prosecution and forfeiture of such funds to the Federal Government.
He said the passenger, his international passport and the seized currencies had been formally handed over to Assistant Commander of the EFCC II , EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Adejumo Richard for further investigation and necessary action, in line with the existing collaboration between the two agencies.
Richard who received the seizure and suspect assured of diligent investigation and due process in accordance with the law
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