S’Africa arrests Nigerian over $9.3m arms cash

The police in South Africa are investigating two Nigerians (one of whom has been arrested) and an Israeli for allegedly attempting to smuggle $9.3m into the country.

According to Reuters, South African custom officers discovered the money after searching the chartered aircraft, a Bombardier Challenger 600, which brought in the Nigerians from Abuja, capital of the country.

Captain Tunde Ojongbede piloted the plane.

Adrian Lackay, spokesperson for the South African Revenue Service (SARS), disclosed that three suitcases full of cash was discovered when the passengers’ luggage was unloaded and put through the scanners at Lanseria international airport (pictured), northwest of Johannesburg, on September 5.

Though they provided documentation confirming they had come to South Africa to buy weapons and told officials they were acting on behalf of the Nigerian intelligence service, 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 in South Africa, claimed not to be aware of the deal.

SARS therefore seized the funds and transferred it to the central bank, pending the investigation of the police.

“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,” SARS spokeswoman, Marika Muller, said in a statement.

South Africa’s City Press newspaper reported that bundles of unused $100 bills packed in three suitcases were transported in a small business jet from the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

South African airport security spokesman, Solomon Makgale, confirmed that a police investigation was underway but declined to give details.

The aircraft was temporarily impounded, but was allowed to return to Abuja on Monday morning.

According to unconfirmed reports, one of the passengers was arrested.

Further investigation revealed that the aircraft formerly belonged to  American healthcare company, Kimberly-Clark, but company spokesperson Bob Brand said the firm had sold the plane years ago, and denied that it had anything to do with the incident.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration aeroplane register, the Challenger, with the registration number N808HG, was registered in the name of Bank of Utah Trustee last year. The address in the register was given as Salt Lake City, US.

Aviation industry insiders claim similar “owners” have previously been involved in several controversial aircraft financing transactions for aircraft in Africa.