The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a significant step to strengthen the country’s anti-money laundering efforts by sensitising international airline operators on the importance of enforcing currency declaration laws.
The exercise, held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on July 5, 2024, aimed to raise awareness among airline personnel on their role in ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s currency declaration regulations.
According to the regulations, any passenger carrying over $10,000 or its equivalent is required to make a declaration to the authorities. Failure to comply may result in seizure, investigation, and prosecution under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws. The NCS emphasized the importance of airline personnel reminding passengers about declaration requirements through in-flight announcements, form distribution, and cooperation during customs checks.
The sensitisation session also highlighted the need for airline operators to submit electronic manifests (e-Manifests) before aircraft arrival and provide complete passenger details, including names, countries of origin and destination, and flight numbers. These records enable customs and security officers to conduct targeted risk assessments and enhance border surveillance operations.
Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Salihu Mas’ud, who led the engagement, expressed confidence in the outcomes of the sensitisation exercise. He stated that the NCS has implemented several operational tools to support effective enforcement, including dedicated search rooms for secondary searches, dedicated posts for currency declarations, and announcements on the Public Address System. He added that the airline operators have committed to making announcements on board their flights, which will ensure higher compliance and strengthen the enforcement mechanism.
Mas’ud noted that the sensitisation exercise will enable the NCS to detect and prosecute defaulters promptly, thereby preventing illicit financial flows. The NCS emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in securing Nigeria’s borders and preventing terrorism financing and smuggling of undeclared funds.
The Service stated that sustained partnerships with airline operators, airport authorities, and intelligence agencies will remain key to its success in combating money laundering and other financial crimes.
With this development, the NCS is poised to enhance its enforcement capabilities and prevent the smuggling of undeclared funds, thereby safeguarding Nigeria’s economy
