The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, has ramped up surveillance efforts in collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the travelling public, to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.
The initiative was the focus of a stakeholder engagement forum held Tuesday at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Conference Room, MMIA. Themed “Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Financing Terrorism Procedures,” the event underscored the need for heightened vigilance and cooperation at Nigeria’s busiest airport.
Speaking at the event, Customs Area Comptroller, Effiong Harrison, highlighted the significance of the forum, particularly as it relates to the declaration of foreign currencies, negotiable instruments, and precious metals or stones at the NCS Anti-Money Laundering Unit’s designated desk.
Harrison noted that since the last sensitisation session earlier this year, the command has recorded notable achievements through its collaboration with other agencies and public engagement. These efforts, he said, have led to the interception of cases involving non-declaration, false declaration, and under-declaration of foreign currencies. The suspects and evidence have been handed over to the EFCC for appropriate action.
“As we move into the second half of the year, it is crucial to reinforce our strategies and elevate Nigeria’s global standing by strengthening national security at our primary air border,” Harrison stated.
EFCC Assistant Commander, Ibinabo Amachree, clarified the legal implications of non-declaration, describing it as a strict liability offense under the Money Laundering Act. “Ignorance of the law is not a defense. Once found with undeclared funds above the legal threshold, prosecution follows, regardless of the source of the funds,” she said.
Meanwhile, Chief Intelligence Analyst at the NFIU, Yepin Jacob, urged airline operators and airport authorities to boost compliance by distributing customs declaration forms during flights, making periodic announcements about declaration rules, and installing visible signage at all international terminals.
NDLEA Commander at MMIA, Ahmadu Garba, also stressed that most drug trafficking cases have a financial link and should be treated as national security threats. He emphasized the agency’s reliance on pre-arrival intelligence, including passenger travel history, origin, and financial activity.
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In a concrete demonstration of enforcement, the NCS MMIA Command recently handed over $29,000 in under-declared cash to the EFCC, further affirming its commitment to curbing illicit financial flows through the country’s international gateways.
