Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, over his alleged failure to declare huge sums of foreign currency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The EFCC disclosed the development on Friday in an update shared on its official X handle, stating: “EFCC Arraigns Austrian For Undeclared $800,585, €651,505 At Lagos Airport.”
The arraignment followed Onal’s arrest by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) while he was attempting to travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, aboard an Emirates Airlines flight.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC commenced an investigation into the Austrian after he was intercepted at the airport with large sums of foreign currency allegedly concealed and not declared as required by law.
According to the EFCC, the Austria “was arrested on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $800,575 and €651,505 in his possession.”
The suspect was handed over to the EFCC by the Customs Service for further investigation and prosecution.
While receiving the suspect, the Head of the Foreign Exchange Malpractices Section (FEMS), ACE II Adejumo Richard, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Ola Olukoyede, praised the Customs Service for its role in the arrest.
“I would like to extend our sincere appreciation and commendation to the Nigerian Customs Service for its outstanding efforts and excellent synergy displayed so far,” Richard said.
He added, “Your dedication to duty and collaborative spirit have been instrumental in advancing our shared objectives.”
The case adds to a growing list of interceptions involving undeclared foreign currencies at Nigerian airports.
In a similar incident, SaharaReporters reported in October 2025 that security operatives at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA1) in Lagos arrested a group of passengers allegedly found in possession of $6.1 million in cash.
The suspects, described as a group of young men, were intercepted at the airport’s domestic terminal while preparing to board an Aero Contractors flight.
Security sources familiar with the incident said the suspects were believed to be couriers for a politically exposed person (PEP), although their identities and intended destination were not immediately disclosed.
