The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a staggering ₦653.9 million worth of undeclared foreign currency at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), in what authorities are hailing as a major success in the ongoing crackdown on illicit financial flows.
The seizure, which includes US dollars, British pounds, and CFA francs, was made by vigilant Customs officers stationed at the airport. Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the attempted smuggling, and have since been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kano on Monday, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, head of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, said the interception followed credible intelligence and proactive screening by Customs officers.
“The suspect, Ahmed Salisu, a Ghanaian passport holder, arrived from Saudi Arabia via Ethiopian Airlines,” said Abubakar. “Although passengers were reminded to declare any foreign currency above $10,000, he failed to do so. Our officers flagged him for further inspection, which led to the discovery of large sums of cash concealed within boxes of clothing.”
A detailed search uncovered $420,900 in US dollars, £5,825 in British pounds, 3,946,500 West African CFA francs, and 224,000 Central African CFA francs — all undeclared.
Abubakar described the operation as a “significant milestone” in efforts to combat financial crimes and smuggling. “This is a clear message to criminal networks: the Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s financial integrity. We are watching, and we will act.”
He added that the interception was part of a broader enforcement strategy launched by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, which includes stakeholder education on currency declaration laws. Customs, he noted, had recently conducted sensitisation campaigns across Kano and Jigawa, targeting Bureau de Change operators, travel agencies, airlines, and pilgrimage boards.
The EFCC’s Kano Zonal Director, who received custody of the suspects and the seized funds, praised the collaboration between the agencies and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to legal prosecution.
“This is not merely a monetary issue—it touches on national security,” he said. “Cash smuggling remains a key channel for financing terrorism, banditry, and transnational crime.
The EFCC will pursue this case to the full extent of the law.”
He cited the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which mandate the declaration of any foreign currency exceeding $10,000 at Nigeria’s borders.
The EFCC urged continued vigilance and intelligence-sharing among stakeholders in the aviation and financial sectors to forestall future infractions.
The incident underscores Nigeria’s intensifying efforts to clamp down on financial crime and tighten border surveillance amid rising concerns over national security.