Man caught with $73,300, £15,957, 827,800 SAR at Kano airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into Haruna Yusuf after customs officers intercepted large amounts of undeclared foreign currencies at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The seized funds comprised $73,300, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi riyals, which were discovered in two separate interceptions between August 8 and August 12, 2026.

The Nigeria Customs Service said the first interception occurred on August 8 when officers screening passengers at the airport found 827,800 Saudi riyals and $53,300 concealed inside footwear in an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage.

On August 12, another luggage belonging to Yusuf, who arrived in Kano aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941, was subjected to secondary screening.

The Customs said its Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology detected suspicious items, leading officers to uncover $20,000 and £15,957 concealed inside sportswear shoes.

The Customs subsequently handed Yusuf and the recovered currencies over to the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Friday Ebelo, said the movement of large amounts of undeclared currency across Nigeria’s borders violated the country’s anti-money laundering laws.

He urged travellers carrying foreign currency to comply with declaration requirements, stressing that declaring funds does not in itself constitute an offence.

“People must adhere to the laws of the land. You must declare the currency you are carrying. If you declare it, nobody will seize your currency,” Ebelo said.

The Customs Area Comptroller for Kano/Jigawa Command, U.U. Adamu, said the discoveries were made through routine and secondary screening of passengers.

He said the interceptions highlighted attempts to move foreign currency across Nigeria’s borders without proper declaration and pledged continued deployment of technology and intelligence-led measures to detect such movements.

The EFCC said it would investigate the source and circumstances surrounding the funds and take appropriate legal action based on its findings.