Prosper Okoye
An Austrian man has appeared in court in Lagos over the failure to declare large sums of foreign currency at Nigeria’s main international airport.
Kavlak Onal, who was due to fly to Dubai, was intercepted at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in December with $800,575 and €651,505 that he had not declared to customs officers.
He was charged on Friday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with two counts of money laundering under the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022. Onal pleaded not guilty and will return to court on 16 January for a bail hearing.
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Under Nigerian law, travellers must declare any cash or negotiable instruments over $10,000 (or equivalent) when leaving or entering the country. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and can lead to prosecution and confiscation of funds.
Authorities say such enforcement is part of Nigeria’s wider efforts to curb illicit financial flows, money laundering and tax evasion. Large undeclared cash movements are often linked to organised crime, corruption, and terrorism financing, officials warn.
Recent years have seen similar seizures at Nigerian airports. In 2025 alone, customs and EFCC officers intercepted more than $2.2 million in undeclared cash, highlighting a growing focus on international financial compliance.
The case also serves as a warning to travellers: carrying large amounts of cash without declaring it can have serious legal consequences.
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