A 39-year-old woman of Nigerian national was arrested on Monday afternoon at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) for attempting to externalize forex amounting to US$26,150 dollars, close to MK15 million at current rate.
KIA Police spokesperson, Sapulain Chitonde Lee, told Malawi News Agency that the woman, Emanuella Ifeoma, was arrested at departure lounge security check point where she was caught with the cash upon security search.
“Our officer, Sub-Inspector Regina Mbukwa, found over US$6,000 in the suspect’s handbag and a further US$20,000 was found when she was taken to CID office for further search,” explained Chitonde Lee.
Ifeoma faces two charges of illegal possession of foreign currency, and transferring of the same out of the country, according to Chitonde Lee.
The suspect has since been released on bail and she is expected to appear before court on Wednesday.
Ifeoma with her two children was travelling to Lagos via Addis Ababa using Ethiopian Airways.
Possession of foreign currency without permission from authorities is contrary to Section 11 (1) of Exchange Control Act, according to the KIA police spokesperson. Mana
