The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation into an Austrian national, Kavlak Onal, over the alleged failure to declare large sums of foreign currency at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
Onal was arrested on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) while attempting to travel to Dubai aboard an Emirates Airline flight. He was found in possession of undeclared cash totalling $800,575 and €651,505.
The suspect was subsequently handed over to operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC for further investigation in line with extant financial and anti-money laundering regulations.
While receiving the suspect, the Head of the Foreign Exchange Malpractices Section (FEMS) of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II) Adejumo Richard, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede, commended the Nigeria 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. Your dedication to duty and collaborative spirit have been instrumental in advancing our shared objectives,” he said.
The EFCC said investigations are ongoing, adding that appropriate legal action would be taken upon the conclusion of inquiries, in accordance with relevant laws governing foreign exchange transactions and financial crimes.
