In a significant breakthrough in the nation’s fight against illicit financial flows and cross-border money laundering, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted undeclared foreign currencies valued at over ₦653 million at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). The arrest, which took place during a clearance operation on Monday, culminated in the handover of three suspects and the seized cash to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
The development was disclosed during a press briefing held at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Speaking to journalists, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, described the seizure as a milestone in the service’s intensified campaign against financial crimes and cross-border smuggling.
According to the Controller, the arrest was made following credible intelligence and meticulous screening by officers stationed at MAKIA. One of the suspects, identified as Ahmed Salisu, a Ghanaian passport holder, had arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Saudi Arabia. Despite the statutory requirement to declare any foreign currency exceeding $10,000 upon arrival, Salisu failed to make any declaration during routine checks.
“Our officers, acting on prior intelligence, flagged him for a more thorough inspection. A physical examination of his baggage revealed concealed foreign currencies hidden in cartons disguised as clothing,” Abubakar disclosed.
The currencies recovered included $420,900 in U.S. dollars, £5,825 in British Pounds, 3,946,500 West African CFA Francs, and 224,000 Central African CFA Francs. The total value of the seizure has been estimated at ₦653.9 million based on current exchange rates.
Comptroller Abubakar described the arrest as a direct result of the Service’s renewed operational strategy, which includes increased surveillance, inter-agency cooperation, and sustained stakeholder engagement. He emphasized that the operation was not only about interception but also deterrence.
“This seizure is a reflection of our zero-tolerance approach to economic sabotage. The collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and other anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC is yielding results. Let this serve as a warning to criminal elements: our borders are under close watch,” he said.
He further revealed that the arrest followed months of sensitisation campaigns across Kano and Jigawa States, where the Command engaged Bureau de Change operators, travel agencies, airline operators, and religious pilgrimage boards to educate them about the legal requirements for currency declaration at Nigerian borders.
Receiving the suspects and recovered funds on behalf of the EFCC, the Zonal Director of the Commission’s Kano Office commended the Customs Service for its vigilance and commitment. He stressed that the case would be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which mandate all travellers to declare foreign currencies exceeding $10,000.
“On behalf of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, we commend this level of inter-agency synergy. This case is not just about the funds involved—it is about safeguarding our national economy and security. Cash smuggling remains a major enabler of terrorism, organised crime, and economic subversion,” the EFCC official said.
He also called on stakeholders within the aviation, financial services, and security sectors to remain vigilant and to share actionable intelligence that could prevent similar infractions in the future.
The suspects are currently in EFCC custody, and investigations are ongoing to determine the source and intended destination of the funds, with authorities promising a thorough probe into possible links to broader transnational criminal networks.