The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that a total of $2.209 million in undeclared cash was intercepted across major airports in Nigeria between January and July 2025.
The seizures, carried out at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (Lagos), Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (Abuja), and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (Kano), highlight the rising trend of currency smuggling and violations of international financial regulations.
According to official data reviewed by our correspondent, the largest single interception occurred in March 2025 at the Kano Airport, where NCS officers recovered $1,154,900 and SR135,900 (Saudi Riyals) concealed in packs of palm dates.
The suspect, who had arrived from Saudi Arabia, was immediately arrested, and the case was handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court later ordered the funds forfeited to the Federal Government.
In another March incident at Abuja Airport, Customs officers uncovered $193,000 hidden inside a carton of yoghurt from an inbound passenger arriving from Jeddah.
Similarly, at Lagos Airport, an inbound passenger from South Africa declared $279,000 but was caught with an additional $299,000 concealed in multiple packages, bringing the total seizure to $578,000.
July 2025 also witnessed a significant interception at Kano Airport, where foreign currencies worth N653.9 million were recovered.
These included $420,900, 3.9 million West African CFA francs, 224,000 Central African CFA francs, and €5,825. Meanwhile, at Lagos Airport, another passenger attempting to travel outbound declared just $6,000 but was caught with an undeclared $29,000.
Industry stakeholders have attributed the surge in undeclared cash seizures to loopholes in Nigeria’s fiscal and monetary policies.
A chieftain of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Pius Ujubuonu, described the trend as a fiscal policy failure.
“It’s a fiscal policy issue. Anywhere you see high rates of circumvention, something is wrong with the framework.
The government needs to review policies that encourage lawful declaration of funds rather than forcing people into circumvention,” Ujubuonu said.
Similarly, the Deputy National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Segun Musa, argued that enforcement alone will not solve the problem.
“The campaign against undeclared cash is not enough.
There must be continuous sensitisation of travelers.
At the same time, thorough investigations must be conducted to determine the sources of these funds and whether they are linked to money laundering, terrorism financing, or other illicit activities,” Musa stated.
The NCS has reminded international travelers of their obligation to declare any amount above $10,000 or its equivalent when entering or leaving Nigeria.
Declaration forms have been made available at airline counters and airport arrival halls to simplify compliance.
According to financial analysts, non-declaration of cash undermines Nigeria’s fight against money laundering, illicit financial flows, and terrorism financing.
It also affects Nigeria’s image in the global financial system, particularly with regulatory watchdogs such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) constantly reviewing member nations’ compliance.
The report further emphasizes how Nigeria’s airports remain hot spots for financial crimes, despite tighter surveillance and inter-agency collaboration between the NCS, EFCC, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).
Experts believe that unless fiscal bottlenecks, foreign exchange scarcity, and weak banking confidence are addressed, attempts to move funds illegally will likely persist.
As the Federal Government continues to push economic reforms and attract foreign investment, analysts insist that transparency in cross-border financial transactions is crucial.
For now, the NCS says it will sustain intelligence-driven enforcement and stricter monitoring across all entry and exit points to reduce currency trafficking.