Cash from Lagos raid, not Gaza aid convoy

Residents of Gaza are reliant on aid coming through the Rafah crossing. (AP PHOTO)

What was Claimed

A photo shows $US50 million discovered in an aid truck destined for the Gaza Strip.

Our Verdict

False. The image is of cash seized in a 2017 Nigerian anti-corruption raid.

It’s claimed a viral photo shows $US50 million found in the back of an aid truck destined for Gaza.

But the image has been miscaptioned and the claim is false. Instead, the photo shows the aftermath of a 2017 raid by anti-corruption authorities in Nigeria.

The post (archived here) features a screenshot of a Twitter (now X) post. Along with the photo of wads of cash, it reads: “#Breaking: Recent inspections of aid trucks destined for Gaza uncovered 50 drones, along with 50 launchers for firing munitions from the drones. Additionally, $50 million in cash was found.”

Gaza aid false claim
The image is from 2017, not 2023.

The post has been shared widely, including here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

However, a reverse image search reveals the real story behind the cash.

The image was taken following a raid at a Lagos unit in 2017 by the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The associated 2017 post states the cash was part of a “humongous find of foreign currencies” including US$43.4 million, £27,800 and 23.2 million Nigerian Naira.

News outlets including the BBC and CNN reported on the raid at the time.

Nigerian authorities released the image following a raid in 2017.

The claim relates to aid entering Gaza, which Gazans are reliant on.

Much of this aid comes through the Rafah crossing, in Egypt. It is the only border crossing into Gaza not directly administered by Israel. However, Israel monitors activity at the border and does have a say in what goes in and out.

The Verdict

The claim that a photo shows $US50 million discovered in an aid truck destined for the Gaza Strip is false.

The image is from an anti-corruption raid in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2017 and is unrelated to the conflict in the Middle East.

False – The claim is inaccurate.

AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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