$265,000 Hidden In Luggage: Customs Transfers Kano Airport Suspect To EFCC
By SANI BATURE
Customs Uncover Undeclared Dollars
THE Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted $265,000 in undeclared foreign currency at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and handed the suspect over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation.
Customs officers made the interception during routine border screening operations at the Kano airport.
The suspect, identified as Adam Musa Adam, a Nigerian passport holder, reportedly arrived from New Delhi, India, on 26 September 2026, aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET941.
Scanner Triggers Secondary Search
The discovery followed a secondary examination of the passenger’s luggage.
According to the Customs Service, officers selected the baggage for additional screening after routine border-control procedures. Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, including scanners, subsequently revealed foreign currency concealed among the passenger’s personal effects.
Customs officers then recovered the cash and detained the passenger for further action.
Following the initial investigation, the command formally transferred both the suspect and the cash exhibits to the EFCC.
Customs Cites Financial Crime Laws
Speaking during the handover, Acting Customs Area Controller for the command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Umar Adamu, said transporting foreign currency above prescribed limits without the required declaration violates Nigerian law.
He cited Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, alongside relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Adamu also said the transfer of the case to the EFCC was consistent with Section 4(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
The development underscores the role of Customs in detecting suspected illicit financial movements at Nigeria’s international borders before cases move to specialised financial-crime investigators.
Customs Reports More Currency Seizures
Beyond the latest interception, Adamu said the MAKIA Customs Command had recorded other seizures involving undeclared foreign currencies and negotiable monetary instruments.
According to him, the command intercepted items valued at more than ₦2.5 billion between January and September 2026.
The figure, he said, reflects the command’s continued focus on preventing illicit financial flows through the airport.
EFCC Takes Over Investigation
Receiving the suspect and the cash on behalf of the EFCC, the commission’s Acting Kano Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC Friday S. Ebelo, pledged a comprehensive investigation.
Ebelo said the commission would examine the circumstances surrounding the movement of the money and pursue the case in line with its statutory responsibilities.
He also highlighted the importance of cooperation between Customs and the EFCC in monitoring cross-border financial transactions.
According to him, such collaboration strengthens efforts to protect the economy from money laundering and other forms of illicit capital movement.
Interagency Cooperation Under Spotlight
The EFCC official commended Customs and EFCC personnel for their cooperation during the interception and handover.
He also acknowledged the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede for supporting closer collaboration between the agencies.
Meanwhile, the case remains subject to investigation. The interception, detention and handover do not in themselves establish criminal guilt, as the EFCC is expected to determine the facts and proceed according to due process.
