Operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have arrested two travellers, identified as Mamud Nasidi and Yahaya Nasidi, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, for allegedly attempting to board a flight without declaring large sums of foreign currency in their possession.
According to reports, the suspects were caught with undeclared cash amounting to £53,415 and $6,180,000 on Saturday at the domestic wing of the airport while trying to board an Abuja-bound Aero Contractors flight.
Sources revealed that the duo, believed to be security operatives, bypassed initial security checks by claiming they were escorting a suspect with the money as exhibits.
However, they reportedly failed to comply with the proper protocol required for conveying suspects on commercial flights.
FAAN officials became suspicious after noticing the travellers’ unusually heavy boxes, which exceeded the permitted cabin luggage allowance.
Upon inspection, the boxes were found to contain large amounts of cash.
In a statement on Sunday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) confirmed that the suspects were initially detained by FAAN personnel before being handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS).
READ ALSO: FAAN Advises Travellers to Leave Early for Lagos Airport Amid Renovations
The DSS later transferred them to the EFCC for further investigation.
The EFCC added that the travellers had arrived in Nigeria from Dubai via Addis Ababa before the incident occurred. “Also found on the suspects were three mobile phones,” the anti-graft agency disclosed.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the source of the funds and whether the suspects violated Nigeria’s financial regulations regarding currency declaration and movement across borders.
The development has renewed concerns about money laundering and the movement of undeclared cash through Nigerian airports, a challenge authorities have vowed to clamp down on.