Nigerians, Israeli Smuggle $9.3m into South Africa to Buy Arms

Two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen are being held by South African police for attempting to illegally bring $9.3 million cash into the country.

The cash carriers claimed they were acting on behalf of the Nigerian intelligence services and provided documentation to confirm that they had come to South Africa to buy weapons for Nigerian security services.

 It was not clear whether the Israeli passenger was an intelligence operative or an arms dealer.

South Africa’s City Press newspaper reported that the accused persons brought the money which is in bundles of unused $100 bills, packed in three suitcases in a small business jet, a Bombardier Challenger 600 with a Nigerian crew.

According to the report, the jet departed Abuja on September 5 and when it arrived South Africa, Customs officers became suspicious when the passengers’ luggage was unloaded and put through the scanners just after 7pm.

The officers then investigated and found three suitcases full of cash.

Marika Muller,  spokesperson of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), in a statement, said the money was seized at Lanseria airport, northwest of Johannesburg.

The statement said: “The passengers’ luggage was searched after Customs officials detected irregularities. The money was detained as it was undisclosed/undeclared and above the prescribed legal limit. The funds are being held at the central bank as police investigate”.

Also, South African airport security spokesman Solomon Makgale confirmed that police investigation was on-going but declined to give further details.

The National Conventional Arms Control Committee, which has to approve the import and export of any weapons as well as issue permits for such transactions, was not aware of any applications in this case.

The Nigerian security service is yet to respond to inquiries for confirmation of the story.