S’Africa seizes $9.3m cash from twoNigerians, Israeli

The South African police are investigating two
Nigerians and an Israeli citizen who tried to
bring $9.3m (about 150bn, in cash into the
country illegally, a spokesman said on Monday,
in what might have been part of an arms deal.
Reuters reported that the South African Revenue
Service seized the funds at Lanseria Airport,
north-west of Johannesburg, on September 5.
The funds are being held at the central bank as
police investigate, SARS spokeswoman Marika
Muller 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,”
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.
The three passengers said they were using it to
buy arms for the Nigerian security services, City
Press said.
South African airport security spokesman
Solomon Makgale confirmed a police
investigation was underway but declined to give
details.