Customs Seizes N654m in Undeclared Foreign Currency at Kano Airport, Hands Over Suspects to EFCC
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted undeclared foreign currencies valued at over N653.9 million at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
The seizure, announced on Monday, 8 July, involved multiple currencies concealed in cartons of clothing and has led to the arrest of three suspects, including a Ghanaian national, who have since been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
Speaking during a press briefing at the Customs House, Bompai, Kano, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, the Area Controller for Kano/Jigawa, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the interception as a significant milestone in the Service’s ongoing campaign against cross-border financial crimes, smuggling, and money laundering.
According to Comptroller Abubakar, the arrest was made possible through credible intelligence and the vigilance of Customs officers at the airport. The lead suspect, identified as Ahmed Salisu, a holder of a Ghanaian passport, had arrived in Kano from Saudi Arabia aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight when he was flagged during clearance procedures.
“Upon arrival, the suspect, like other passengers, was reminded of the legal obligation to declare foreign currencies exceeding $10,000. He declined. But acting on credible intelligence, our vigilant officers flagged him for additional checks, which led to the discovery of concealed foreign currencies hidden inside cartons of clothing,” Abubakar disclosed.
A detailed examination of the suspect’s baggage uncovered $420,900 in United States dollars, £5,825 in British Pounds Sterling, 3,946,500 West African CFA Francs, and 224,000 Central African CFA Francs—altogether valued at over N653.9 million.
“This interception is a testament to the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering commitment to national security and our collaboration with sister agencies like the EFCC and ICPC in safeguarding the country’s financial and territorial integrity,” he added.
Comptroller Abubakar further stated that the arrest aligns with directives issued earlier this year by the Comptroller-General, which emphasised sensitisation and enforcement of currency declaration laws.
He noted that the Command had embarked on awareness campaigns targeting Bureau de Change operators, airline staff, travel agencies, and pilgrim boards across Kano and Jigawa States.
Receiving the suspects and seized cash on behalf of the EFCC, the Zonal Director of the Commission’s Kano Command commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance and cooperation.
He assured journalists that the EFCC would thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure justice is served in line with existing legal frameworks.
“On behalf of the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, we express our deep appreciation to the Nigeria Customs Service. This is not just about undeclared money; it is about national security. Cash smuggling has long served as a funding pipeline for terrorism, banditry, and transnational crime,” the EFCC official stated.
He further explained that the seizure was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, both of which mandate compulsory declaration of foreign currency exceeding $10,000 at all Nigerian borders.
The EFCC representative concluded by urging stakeholders in the aviation, financial, and security sectors to sustain intelligence sharing and vigilance to curtail future breaches of Nigeria’s financial regulations.
