EFCC Probes Nigerian Arrested With $265,000 At Kano Airport

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

The suspect was arrested on Sunday by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during a routine screening operation at the airport.

According to the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the suspect, who arrived from New Delhi aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET941, was intercepted after his luggage was flagged for secondary inspection.

A subsequent examination using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology reportedly led to the discovery of the undeclared foreign currency concealed among his personal belongings.

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu, later handed the suspect and the recovered money over to the EFCC for further investigation.

Adamu said carrying foreign currency above the approved threshold without declaring it contravenes Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, as well as relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

He added that the Kano Customs Command had, from January to date, intercepted undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments worth more than ₦2.5 billion.

Receiving the suspect on behalf of the EFCC, the Kano Acting Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Friday Ebelo, said the commission would conduct further investigations into the case.

Ebelo commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance and described the handover as an example of effective inter-agency collaboration.

He also praised Adamu and his officers for their commitment to enforcing regulations governing the cross-border movement of currency.

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

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