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| File: A Stash of US$1 million dollars. (Not the money seized) |
A
high-level investigation is under way after a mysterious business jet,
registered in the US and carrying nearly US$9.3 million (R102 million) in cash,
landed at Lanseria International Airport, northwest of Johannesburg, on
September 5, City Press reports.
South African police are investigating two Nigerians
and an Israeli citizen who tried to bring $9.3 million in cash into the country
illegally, a spokesman said on Monday, in what might have been part of an arms
deal.
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) seized the
funds at Lanseria airport, northwest of Johannesburg, on Sept. 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.
The
cash, unused US$100 bills, was packed in three suitcases and was apparently
meant for buying arms for the Nigerian intelligence service.
The
plane, a Challenger 600, had a Nigerian flight crew on board, along with two
Nigerian citizens and an Israeli. It was piloted by a Captain Ojongbede and the
flight had come from Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
Adrian
Lackay, spokesperson for the SA Revenue Service (Sars), confirmed that 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.
The
passengers apparently told officials they were acting on behalf of the Nigerian
intelligence service.
They
provided documentation confirming they had come to South Africa to buy weapons.
It is not clear whether the Israeli passenger was an intelligence operative or
an arms dealer.
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.
A
committee spokesperson said they were aware of the incident, but did not
respond to requests for further information.
Hawks
spokesperson Captain Paul Ramaloko confirmed the incident. City Press
understands that the National Prosecuting Authority unit that investigates
crimes against the state is also involved in the case, and the State Security
Agency has also shown interest in the matter.
Arms
transactions are not usually paid for in cash, and a complicated bank transfer
system is needed to transfer large amounts of money from one country to
another.
Lackay
said Sars officials made certain that the money was properly packaged, and
sealed and handed to the Reserve Bank for safekeeping until the investigation
was completed.
The
case was reported to the Muldersdrift Police Station, west of Joburg, and the
seizure of the money was documented accordingly, said Lackay.
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 used to belong to the 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 reregistered 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.
City
Press has also established that the aircraft is used by an entity called Swat
Inc in Abuja, but no details of such a company could be found.
Another
plane used by Swat Inc, a Hawker Siddeley 125, also with an American
registration number (N497AG), landed at Lanseria Airport last month. That plane
and its passengers remained in the country for two days before returning to
Abuja on August 13.
The
Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria failed to respond to written and
telephonic enquiries this week.
Jack
Hillmeyer, spokesperson for the American embassy, said no one at his embassy
knew anything about the aircraft or the incident.
The
SA Reserve Bank’s regulations provide that a passenger entering or leaving the
country may carry a maximum amount of R25 000 in cash, or the equivalent in
foreign currency in notes.
The
passenger may be stopped and asked to declare the cash and state the origin of
the money.
He
or she may also be asked for the letter of permission from the central bank in
their country of origin.
And if there is any
suspicion that the cash is meant for money laundering, customs officers may
seize it.
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