Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A has seized United States of America (USA) dollars and West African CFA Francs valued at N30.86 million from smugglers near Seme Border.
The Public Relations Officer of Customs FOU Zone A, Mr. Hussaini Abdullahi said in a statement on Wednesday that the interception occurred on Sunday at approximately 11:45pm, saying that it was part of efforts to combat the movement of illicit financial flows within the country,
At the hand over ceremony to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Comptroller of the FOU Zone A Customs Unit, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu
the Comptroller disclosed that the sum of $20,000 and 110,000 West African CFA Francs, with a total estimated value of ₦30,861,651 were concealed in a vehicle.
He noted the operations patrol team was on routine surveillance along the Babapupa bush paths near the Seme border when they intercepted a Nissan Almera suspected to be a smuggled vehicle.
Shuaibu noted that the driver abandoned the vehicle when he sighted FOU officers and fled into the bush to evade arrest.
The comptroller stressed that the seizure was a testament to the dedication of his officers and the arrest underscores the relentless commitment of Customs personnel to thwart the activities of illicit financial flow operators and protect the Nigerian economy.est African CFA Fra.
The comptroller noted that the arrest aligns with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, both of which mandate the declaration of any currency exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent at the country’s borders.
Also, he reiterated the service’s commitment to stakeholder education, adding that the service recently launched robust sensitisation campaigns to educate stakeholders on the legal requirements for currency declaration at our borders.
Shuaibu said: “I urge stakeholders and the public to leverage these initiatives to safeguard their hard-earned income. In line with the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, the seized currencies have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Speaking on behalf of the EFCC Zonal Directorate 1, Assistant Director Shehu Mohammed, who represented the Zonal Coordinator, commended Customs for the interception and emphasised effective collaboration between both agencies.
Mohammed said: “This seizure and subsequent handover of undeclared foreign currency highlight the strong synergy between our agencies and our joint commitment to enforcing financial laws in Nigeria.
“The EFCC will conduct a thorough investigation to identify the individuals involved and determine the appropriate legal action.”
