Officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have intercepted two passengers at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), Lagos, with a staggering $6.1 million in cash allegedly concealed in multiple boxes.
The suspects, identified as Mahmud Nasidi and Yahaya Nasidi, were reportedly arrested by Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers while attempting to board an Aero Contractors flight to Abuja on Friday.
According to reports, the huge cash haul was discovered during a routine security screening after airport officials became suspicious of the passengers’ unusually heavy luggage.
Sources said that upon inspection, the boxes were found to contain undeclared U.S. dollars far exceeding the $10,000 limit allowed for international travelers without formal declaration to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
It was gathered that the suspects, who had allegedly arrived from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, were en route to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, through Abuja when they were intercepted.
Following their arrest, the suspects were handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) before being transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
Confirming the development, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said the suspects were now in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
“I can confirm to you that the suspects — two of them — were intercepted today. Upon their arrest by FAAN operatives, they were handed over to the DSS, who subsequently transferred them to us,” Oyewale stated.
The Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, also confirmed the incident, noting that the airline’s security team raised concerns when the men resisted efforts to have their heavy bags checked into the aircraft hold.
“Our security noticed that some passengers were carrying heavy bags and asked them to check them in, but they refused,” Sanusi explained.
“They later admitted that the bags contained money, which had not been declared. They also claimed to be security agents escorting a suspect, but there was no prior notice or authorization for such an operation.”
Sanusi added that the airline declined to allow the passengers on board since standard procedures for transporting suspects or exhibits were not followed.
The EFCC said the suspects and the exhibits were received by CSE Margaret Lamai on behalf of the acting Zonal Director of Lagos Directorate 2, ACE1 Ahmed Ghali.
The agency is expected to investigate the source of the funds and determine whether the incident violates Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
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