By Femi Anamelechi
The newly inaugurated World Customs Organisation (WCO) Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Mentoring Mission Team has seeked first-hand information to combat issues related to the illicit flow of funds with inspection tour at the Muritala Muhammad International Airport Command.Thoe is part of the Service measures to identify operational bottlenecks that affects crucial staleholders, started at NCS Electronic Currency Declaration Unit at the strategic airport Ikeja on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.Welcoming the high delegate on behalf of the acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement, DC Mahmood Mundi stated that working with the WCO Mission is a necessary step to having a united front in curbing illegal financial flow in accordance with international best practices.The Acting Area Controller pointed out the recent successes recorded through the initiative under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and the significant roles of sister security agencies in securing the border.”In 2025, the unit seized undeclared currencies totaling about 834,165 Euros and 1,316,692 US Dollars. Subsequently, the seizures were transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation and prosecution. The AML/CFT MMIA Unit, as a result of the efforts of the headquarters, in 2025 migrated from manual currency declaration forms to electronic currency declaration. I think that is a plus for us and we should applaud ourselves,” he saidResponding,the National Coordinator Nigeria Customs Service, Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Unit, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Mansur Salisu stated that to achieve expected results, it is important to tour key Customs formations and engage relevant stakeholders to understand existing frameworks, identify gaps and tighten leakages. “The aim of the mission is to hear from those of us in the field on how best the AML/CFT framework can be strengthened to better detect and disrupt illicit financial flows. It is not a Customs programme alone; it is a programme meant for Nigeria,” he said
