Customs Intercept $193,000 Smuggled in Yogurt Carton at Abuja Airport

Customs Intercept $193,000 Smuggled in Yogurt Carton at Abuja Airport

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confiscated $193,000 in cash hidden inside a yogurt carton at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The discovery was made by officers of the Federal Capital Territory Command during routine baggage checks, following an intelligence tip-off.

Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada confirmed the seizure on Friday, identifying the suspect as 40-year-old Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, who arrived on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Officials became suspicious after scanning his luggage and noticing irregularities. Upon further inspection, they uncovered the concealed cash.

Customs Area Controller Olumide Adebisi emphasized that transporting undeclared funds above $10,000 violates Nigeria’s Anti-Money Laundering Act and the Customs Act. Those found guilty could face prosecution, forfeiture of the money, or imprisonment.

"The use of scanning technology was instrumental in detecting the hidden cash. After identifying inconsistencies, we conducted a detailed search and recovered the funds," Adebisi explained.