By Nkechi Eze
In a significant breakthrough against illicit financial flows, 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). The seized cash and three suspects have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.
The development was announced on Monday, July 8, 2025, during a press briefing held at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano. Addressing the media, the Customs Area Controller for Kano/Jigawa Command, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, described the interception as a major stride in the fight against financial crimes and cross-border smuggling networks.
According to Comptroller Abubakar, the seizure followed credible intelligence and a meticulous clearance operation by vigilant officers at MAKIA, who flagged a passenger, Ahmed Salisu, holder of a Ghanaian passport, on arrival from Saudi Arabia via an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
“Upon arrival, the suspect, like other passengers, was reminded of the legal obligation to declare foreign currencies exceeding $10,000. He declined. But acting on credible intelligence, our vigilant officers flagged him for additional checks, which led to the discovery of concealed foreign currencies hidden inside cartons of clothing,” the Comptroller said.
A physical inspection of his baggage uncovered large sums of cash: $420,900 in U.S. dollars, £5,825 in British Pounds Sterling, 3,946,500 West African CFA Francs, and 224,000 Central African CFA Francs. The total value of the recovered foreign currency, according to the Customs Service, exceeds ₦653.9 million.
Describing the seizure as a reflection of the Service’s renewed enforcement strategy, Comptroller Abubakar highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration, noting the handover to the EFCC as part of the government’s broader efforts to safeguard the nation’s financial and territorial integrity.
“This arrest highlights the result of proactive enforcement, continuous stakeholder sensitisation, and our renewed focus on border surveillance. Our goal is not only to detect but also to deter. Let this be a clear message to criminal networks: we are watching, and we will act,” he said.
He further linked the operation to the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing awareness campaigns under CGC Adeniyi’s directive. The campaigns, held across Kano and Jigawa, targeted Bureau de Change operators, travel agencies, airline operators, and pilgrim boards, educating them on the mandatory declaration of foreign currencies at Nigeria’s borders.
Receiving the suspects and the seized currencies on behalf of the EFCC, the Zonal Director of the Commission’s Kano Command commended the synergy between the agencies. He also reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to prosecuting the case within the provisions of Nigerian law.
“On behalf of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, we express appreciation to the Nigeria Customs Service for their vigilance and cooperation. This case is not just about money; it is about national security. Cash smuggling has been a funding lifeline for terrorism, banditry, and transnational crimes,” he stated.
The EFCC official noted that the arrest and seizure were made in line with the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, both of which mandate that foreign currency exceeding $10,000 must be declared at entry and exit points.
He urged greater vigilance and information sharing across the aviation, banking, and security sectors to prevent similar infractions and preserve Nigeria’s economic stability.
The interception adds to a growing list of high-profile seizures recorded by Customs and EFCC in recent months, as Nigerian authorities ramp up efforts to clamp down on illicit financial activities that threaten national security and economic reform goals.
