At first glance, it seemed like just another busy day at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. But for one passenger, Phil-Olumba Ifunaya Sheila, her planned trip to the United Kingdom took an unexpected detour – not to Heathrow, but straight into the waiting arms of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Sheila was intercepted by eagle-eyed officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during a routine luggage check. She reportedly told officers she was travelling with a modest $4,000. However, that story quickly fell apart when a deeper search revealed far more than pocket money.
According to the EFCC, Sheila was found in possession of $14,567, £1,030, and CA$40 – all undeclared. That’s a serious offence under Nigeria’s money laundering and financial regulations laws.
“Upon arrest, she claimed she had only $4,000,” the EFCC said in a statement issued by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale. “But the facts said otherwise.”
Now under investigation by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Sheila faces possible charges over her failure to declare the full amount. And yes, in case you’re wondering – even forgetting just a few extra notes in your purse could land you in hot soup when it comes to foreign currency declaration.
But that wasn’t the only eyebrow-raising interception that day.
In a separate and even more bizarre twist, Customs officials working in collaboration with the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) intercepted a parcel containing an unbelievable sum: 101 trillion Zimbabwean Dollars – yes, you read that right – and over 41 million Vietnamese Dong.
Now, before anyone starts dreaming of private jets and mansions in Banana Island, it’s worth noting that the Zimbabwean currency is infamously inflated. That 101 trillion Zim Dollars translates to just about ₦426 billion – on paper, at least – and the Vietnamese Dong amounted to just under ₦96,000. Still, the attempted import of such massive amounts of foreign currency has triggered an official investigation.
The parcel, said to have been discovered during routine checks by vigilant NIPOST and Customs officers, is now in EFCC custody.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that such illegal currency movements are stopped at the point of entry,” said E.J. Harrison, Area Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service at the airport. “And thanks to our officers’ dedication and sharp eyes, we caught it before it slipped through.”
The EFCC has promised to waste no time.
Receiving the suspect and the intercepted currencies, EFCC operative M.A. Timta, who represented the Acting Zonal Director, Ahmed Ghali, assured Nigerians that full investigations were already underway.
“We will get to the bottom of this,” Timta said. “These illegal movements of money not only break the law, they also pose serious threats to our economy and financial system.”
It’s not the first time Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies have uncovered questionable currency smuggling attempts – and with global financial crimes becoming more sophisticated, it likely won’t be the last.
As for Sheila, what started as a routine trip to the UK may now involve a much longer layover – possibly in court. Whether her explanation holds water or not, the EFCC seems ready to dig deep.
One thing is certain: whether it’s in your pocket, suitcase, or mysteriously packed in postal parcels, if you’re moving money through Nigeria’s borders – declare it, or prepare for wahala.
As a Lagos traveler might say, “Customs no dey look face. Declare your dollars, o, before dem declare you wanted!”
