A man identified as Okorie Sunday has been arrested by Nigeria Customs agents at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport for trying to smuggle in $578 000 cash hidden in his body.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, John Harrison told journalists Friday that Mr. Sunday was intercepted on Wednesday March 19, 2025, while coming into Nigeria from South Africa. The suspected was accosted by Customs agents when he started behaving abnormally and upon search the cash was discovered underneath his clothing. He was also in possession of counterfeit $250 and a £100 note.
“The passenger was said to have declared $279,000 and hid $299,000 on his body, bringing the total money to $578, 000. This contravenes the threshold of $10,000 approved by law,” Harrison said.
The cash that was handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was jointly counted and confirmed by customs and the anti-graft agency.
While receiving the intercepted cash, the acting Zonal Director of EFCC Ahmed Ghali, urged members of the public to avoid such crimes advising that any cash over $10,000 should be declared as provided by law.
