The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, has handed over a falsely declared sum of $578,000 and a suspect to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
Speaking at the handover ceremony on Friday, March 21, 2025, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Effiong Harrison, revealed that the suspect, Okorie Sylvanus Sunday, arrived in Lagos from South Africa on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
According to Harrison, the suspect initially declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk. However, during a thorough examination, customs officers discovered an additional $299,000 hidden in various packages. Further searches uncovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 note.
“This act is a clear violation of financial regulations, as the law only permits the declaration of amounts exceeding $10,000,” Harrison stated.
He added that the seizure and subsequent handover align with the policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, which focused on consolidation, collaboration, and innovation in curbing financial crimes.
Receiving the funds on behalf of the EFCC, Acting Zonal Director Ahmed Ghali stressed the need for strict adherence to financial regulations.
“The EFCC will take over the investigation and ensure appropriate prosecution in accordance with our mandate to combat financial crimes,” Ghali affirmed.
The development underscored the ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to curb illicit financial activities and enforce compliance with international monetary regulations.
