UN seizes smuggled currency, goods at Ndjili airport

Officials of the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC) returned one million Congolese francs (US $3,381) to the Congolese national intelligence agency, Agence Nationale de Renseignement (ANR), found in the luggage of a Congolese national who attempted to board a MONUC flight to Kisangani in early June at Ndjili International Airport outside Kinshasa to be reunified with his family, MONUC confirmed to IRIN today. Trafficking of currency between government and rebel-held territory in the DRC is illegal, and the seizure and return of the money and assorted commercial goods was made in accordance with UN regulations. Following the incident, MONUC suspended its reunification exercise until further notice and tightened its air travel regulations for all passengers. As part of its humanitarian operations and to ensure free movement of persons and their goods, MONUC had made its aircraft available to Congolese living in Kinshasa trying to reach their families in rebel-held territory, and vice versa.