The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, has reaffirmed its commitment to combating money laundering and terrorism financing through strategic collaboration with key agencies and stakeholders.
These include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), airline operators, airport authorities, and the traveling public.
This renewed effort was formalized during a sensitisation forum held on Tuesday at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Conference Room, MMIA. Themed “Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism Procedures”, the event brought together enforcement agencies, regulators, and aviation stakeholders to strengthen inter-agency synergy and public compliance.
Delivering the keynote address, the Customs Area Controller at MMIA, Comptroller Effiong Harrison, described the forum as timely and critical. He emphasized its relevance in light of growing concerns over the inward and outward movement of foreign currencies, negotiable instruments, precious stones, and metals at Nigeria’s busiest international airport.
Harrison noted that since the last sensitisation session held earlier this year, the command had made substantial progress. This, he said, was achieved through continued collaboration with stakeholders and rigorous monitoring of passengers and cargo.
“Our interventions have led to the interception of several instances of non-declaration, false declaration, and under-declaration of currencies,” he revealed.
He further disclosed that suspects in these cases were immediately handed over to the EFCC for necessary investigation and prosecution.
“As we move into the second half of the year, it becomes even more important to review our operations, reinforce procedures, and enhance vigilance,” Harrison stated. “This will help Nigeria regain credibility and achieve compliance with international anti-money laundering standards, while securing the nation’s air border.”
Speaking at the event, EFCC Assistant Commander Ibinabo Amachree provided a legal overview of currency declaration obligations. She explained that failure to declare funds above the legal threshold constitutes a criminal offense, irrespective of whether the funds are derived from legitimate sources.
“Non-declaration is classified as a strict liability offense under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act. This means ignorance of the law is not a defense. Once caught with undeclared funds above the limit, the individual is liable to prosecution,” she said.
Also speaking, the Chief Intelligence Analyst at the NFIU, Mr. Yepin Jacob, urged airlines and airport operators to play a more proactive role in compliance enforcement.
He recommended the consistent distribution of customs declaration forms onboard international flights, periodic announcements reminding travelers of their obligations, and the placement of clear signage on currency declaration procedures within terminal buildings.
In addition, Commander of the NDLEA at MMIA, Ahmadu Garba, drew attention to the financial linkages of drug-related offenses. According to him, drug trafficking should not be viewed solely from a criminal or health standpoint, but also as a financial crime that threatens national security.
He underscored the importance of pre-arrival intelligence gathering, noting that NDLEA often receives detailed information on passengers, including their country of origin, travel patterns, and financial activities, before their arrival in Nigeria.
Garba concluded by calling for a more integrated approach, where all stakeholders share intelligence and cooperate seamlessly to protect Nigeria’s borders from financial crimes and illicit transactions that fund terrorism and organized crime.
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