EFCC probes passenger arrested with $265,000 at Kano airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced investigation into a passenger arrested with $265,000 in undeclared foreign currency at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

The suspect, identified as Adam Musa Adam, was arrested on September 26, 2026, after arriving from New Delhi on Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET941.

According to a statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the suspect was intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service during routine screening at the airport.

His luggage was subjected to secondary examination using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, leading to the discovery of the undeclared cash concealed among his personal belongings.

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Usman Umar Adamu, said the movement of foreign currency above the approved threshold without declaration contravened Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

Adamu said the Kano Customs Command had intercepted undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments worth more than N2.5 billion since January.

The suspect and the recovered cash were subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.

Receiving the suspect and exhibits, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC in Kano, Friday S. Ebelo, described the handover as evidence of inter-agency collaboration in tackling illicit financial flows.

“The EFCC will conduct and carry out its established mandate by further investigating and prosecuting this case to its logical conclusion,” Ebelo said.

He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and officers of the service for their cooperation and vigilance in enforcing laws governing the cross-border movement of currency.

The EFCC said investigation into the case is ongoing.