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Customs intercepts $193,000 concealed in yoghurt carton at Abuja Airport

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted $193,000 in undeclared foreign currency concealed in a carton of yoghurt at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The interception on Thursday, 20th March 2025, resulted from credible intelligence gathering and a vigilant baggage check on an inbound passenger.

Addressing journalists at the airport’s international wing, the Customs area controller, Comptroller Olumide Adebisi, disclosed that the suspect, Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina (40 years old), arrived in Nigeria onboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. 951 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Acting on intelligence received earlier in the day, Customs officers conducted a detailed inspection, which led to the discovery of the concealed funds.

“Around the early hours of today, we received an intelligence report, which proved very helpful. This afternoon, one Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina, who boarded Ethiopian Airlines from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was found concealing a total sum of $193,000 inside a carton of yoghurt,” Adebisi said.

He noted that the undeclared cash violates the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, both of which mandate that any traveller in possession of funds exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent in negotiable instruments must declare it to the Nigeria Customs Service upon arrival or departure.

“The law clearly states that if a person has funds above $10,000, they must declare it to Customs. Failure to do so could result in the forfeiture of the money, a prison sentence of up to two years, or both,” Adebisi explained.

Providing further details on how Customs officers uncovered the smuggled cash, Adebisi noted that advanced scanning technology played a crucial role in detecting the unusual density of the suspect’s luggage.

“When Mr. Kamilu Abdullahi Sarina’s luggage was scanned, we detected an unusual density. We allowed him to proceed but closely monitored his baggage.

“Upon further inspection, we discovered that the density was irregular, so we instructed him to return. In his presence, we checked the package and found the undeclared money hidden inside the yoghurt carton,” he said.

Following the seizure, the intercepted $193,000 was formally handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.

“As required by law, we are handing over the forfeited money to the EFCC for further necessary action.

“All travellers must comply with Nigeria’s financial regulations, particularly the legal requirement to declare any cash or negotiable instruments exceeding the approved threshold when travelling in or out of the country.”

“The Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995 provide clear guidelines on currency declaration. Non-compliance with these regulations violates Nigerian law and attracts severe penalties,” he added.

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CP Bakori declares war on thuggery in Kano, orders raids on hideouts

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The Commissioner of Police in Kano State, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has issued a firm directive to his officers to launch aggressive operations against the menace of thuggery, known locally as Daba, in a renewed effort to restore lasting peace across the state.

The move came after a high-level security summit held on Friday, June 14, 2025, which brought together Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, as well as Tactical and Operational Commanders from across the state.

This is contained in a statement signed by DSP Abdullahi Hussaini, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police on Sunday.

Speaking during the meeting, CP Bakori declared an all-out offensive on criminal gangs and warned that thuggery would no longer be tolerated in any part of Kano.

“Thuggery will no longer be tolerated,” the police boss stated, urging his commanders to intensify operations and ensure such threats are “nipped in the bud.”

He further assured the people of Kano that, “they will continue to enjoy uninterrupted peace and security, enabling them to sleep with their two eyes closed.” To back his words with action, the Police Command announced a three-pronged strategy to stamp out criminal elements.

These include intelligence-led raids targeting known hideouts, stronger collaboration with community leaders to co-develop security solutions, and coordination with other security agencies to ensure a united response.

While the police ramp up enforcement, CP Bakori also made a passionate appeal to citizens to support security agencies by remaining vigilant and sharing timely information.

“Members of the public are urged to cooperate with the Police and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station,” the statement read.

Residents can reach the police through the following emergency numbers: 08032419754, 08123821575, or 09029292926.

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PROJECT UPDATE: CONSTRUCTION OF ORLU REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HOUSE NEARS COMPLETION

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The ongoing construction of the new Regional Government House in Eziachi, Orlu Local Government Area, is making steady progress, with major structural works now completed and final finishing touches currently underway.

This development marks a significant milestone in the execution of the strategic project, bringing it closer to commissioning and full operational readiness.

When completed, the Regional Government House is expected to enhance administrative efficiency, improve public service delivery, and support infrastructure development across the region. The project aligns with Governor Hope Uzodimma’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, which prioritizes inclusive governance and sustainable development across all zones of Imo State.

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Tragedy as groom, friends die in car crash moments before wedding

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A day meant for celebration turned tragic in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State as a groom and two of his friends lost their lives in a fatal accident just moments before his wedding ceremony.

The incident occurred on Saturday.

The deceased, SP Mustapha Garba Gumau, a senior police officer, was reportedly enroute from Gumau to Magaman-Gumau for his wedding fatiha scheduled for 10:00 am when the accident occurred around 9:00 am at Bargan Tsamiya village.

Eyewitnesses said the vehicle carrying the groom and his friends veered off the road and crashed, killing him and two others — Shuaibu Umar and Sulaiman Musa — on the spot.

Several other occupants of the vehicle were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Ekwutosblog reports that the sudden loss has thrown the communities of Gumau and Magaman-Gumau into mourning, as what should have been a joyful union turned into a sorrowful occasion.

 

When contacted, the spokesman of the Bauchi Police Command , Mohammed Wakil, could not be reached as his line was unreachable.

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