Customs seize ₦654m undeclared cash 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 ₦653.9 million at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), in a major move against illicit financial flows and cross-border money laundering.

The seizure was announced during a press briefing on Monday, July 8, 2025, at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano, where the intercepted cash and three suspects were officially handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.

Speaking at the event, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar—who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi—described the interception as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on financial crimes associated with smuggling and money laundering.

According to Abubakar, the arrest was made after officers acted on credible intelligence, flagging a passenger, Ahmed Salisu, a Ghanaian national, who had arrived from Saudi Arabia via Ethiopian Airlines. Although passengers were reminded of the requirement to declare foreign currency in excess of $10,000, Salisu declined to make any declaration.

However, during a routine search of his baggage, officers discovered large sums of cash concealed in cartons of clothing. The seized currencies included $420,900 (U.S. dollars), £5,825 (British Pounds), 3,946,500 West African CFA Francs, and 224,000 Central African CFA Francs—all totaling over ₦653.9 million.

“This arrest demonstrates our commitment to national security and reflects the success of our enhanced surveillance and intelligence-sharing mechanisms,” Abubakar said. “It is a warning to criminal networks that the Service is alert and ready to act.”

He added that the arrest was part of a broader directive issued earlier in the year by the Comptroller-General to raise awareness about currency declaration laws. The Command, he said, had organized several sensitisation campaigns across Kano and Jigawa, targeting Bureau de Change operators, travel agencies, airline staff, and pilgrimage boards to promote compliance.

Representing the EFCC at the event, the Zonal Director of the Commission’s Kano Office praised the seamless collaboration between both agencies and vowed that the suspects would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

“This case goes beyond monetary value. It touches on national security,” the EFCC official stated. “Cash smuggling has been a known source of funding for terrorism, banditry, and cross-border crimes.”

He reaffirmed that the seizure and arrest were in line with the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which mandate travelers to declare any foreign currency exceeding $10,000 upon arrival or departure.

The EFCC also urged aviation and financial sector stakeholders to remain vigilant and continue providing actionable intelligence that could help prevent similar infractions in the future.

Both agencies commended the officers involved in the successful operation and reiterated their joint commitment to combating financial crimes and strengthening border security.