Customs Intercepts Undeclared N653m in Foreign Currency at Kano Airport, Arrests Suspects
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Command, has intercepted undeclared foreign currencies worth over ₦653 million at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), leading to the arrest of three suspects.
The seizure was announced during a joint press briefing held on Tuesday by the Customs Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command, Dalhatu Abubakar, and the Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kano Office, Ibrahim Shazali.
Comptroller Abubakar disclosed that one of the suspects, identified as Ahmed Salisu, a Ghanaian national bearing passport number G5347658, was apprehended on July 7, 2025, at approximately 12:15 p.m. He had just arrived from Saudi Arabia aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.
“Acting on credible intelligence and in collaboration with both local and international partners, our officers flagged the suspect for a routine inspection,” Abubakar explained. “Despite reminders about the legal obligation to declare any amount exceeding $10,000, the suspect failed to comply.”
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A thorough inspection of his luggage revealed foreign currencies concealed in cartons of clothing, with the total value estimated at ₦653,987,268.50. Abubakar described the smuggling attempt as a “desperate and calculated effort to evade detection,” but noted that the operation’s success underscores the command’s effective intelligence network.
“This operation sends a strong signal to those attempting to sabotage Nigeria’s financial regulations,” he said. “Our systems are working, and inter-agency cooperation remains robust.”
The EFCC’s Zonal Director, Ibrahim Shazali, representing the Commission’s Chairman, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, praised the joint operation as a demonstration of efficient partnership and unwavering resolve to combat financial crimes.
“The significance of this seizure is not just in the amount, but in the clear message it conveys—Nigeria will not tolerate illegal movement of cash,” Shazali declared. “We will continue to work hand-in-hand with sister agencies to protect the economy. Anyone found breaking the law will be tracked, intercepted, and prosecuted without hesitation.”
Authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing, and legal proceedings have commenced.
By PRNigeria
