Passengers Arrested With Over $6.1 Million Cash At Lagos Airport, Handed Over To EFCC

In a significant security operation, officials at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA1) in Lagos have apprehended a group of young men found carrying over $6.1 million in cash. The suspects were intercepted at the domestic terminal while attempting to board an Aero Contractors flight.

Sources familiar with the incident, who requested anonymity, revealed that the men are believed to be couriers for a politically exposed person (PEP), though their identities and intended destination remain undisclosed. The suspects aroused suspicion during routine screening checks conducted by the Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit, which led to the discovery of the unusually large sum of foreign currency.

Following their arrest, the suspects were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further questioning and investigation. A senior AVSEC official disclosed that authorities are collaborating closely with the EFCC to unravel the full circumstances behind the case.

This recent seizure echoes a similar high-profile event in 2020 when Customs officers at the same airport intercepted over $8 million stashed illegally inside a vehicle parked on the tarmac. That discovery, credited to intelligence efforts by the Nigeria Customs Service, highlighted ongoing challenges with illicit cash movements through the nation’s busiest airport.

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With Nigeria’s financial regulations mandating the declaration of cash sums exceeding $10,000, the EFCC continues to intensify its clampdown on money laundering and illegal currency trafficking. The agency has issued stern warnings against the transportation of undeclared cash, threatening jail terms, hefty fines, and asset forfeiture.

The incident underscores the vigilance of security agencies at international and domestic entry points as they work to safeguard Nigeria’s economic and security interests from illicit financial flows.

Further updates are expected as the EFCC deepens its probe into this latest cash seizure at Lagos airport.