EFCC Commences Investigation Into Intercepted $73,000, £15,957, 827,800 Saudi Riyals

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kano Zonal Directorate has commenced investigation into the interception of multiple undeclared foreign currencies with a combined face value of $73,000, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

The currencies, which were intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during routine screening of arriving passengers, were handed over to the EFCC alongside a suspect, Haruna Yusuf, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The handover took place at the Customs Area Command in Kano, where the acting customs area comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command, deputy comptroller U.U. Adamu, formally transferred the suspect and recovered funds to the acting zonal director of the EFCC, Kano Directorate, assistant commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Friday Ebelo.

According to Adamu, the interceptions were made in two separate operations between August 8 and August 12, 2026, involving passengers and luggage arriving at the airport.

He said that on August 8, at about 2:20 p.m., Customs officers conducting passenger screening at MAKIA intercepted an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage containing 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300, which were concealed inside footwear.

Similarly, on August 12 at about 1:50 p.m., officers flagged a luggage belonging to Yusuf, who arrived at MAKIA aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941.

Adamu said secondary screening using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology led to the discovery of $20,000 and £15,957, concealed inside sportswear shoes.

He said the handover was carried out pursuant to Section 4(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which empowers the Service to collaborate with other border regulatory agencies.

Adamu described the interceptions as evidence of the vigilance of Customs officers in detecting attempts to move large amounts of undeclared foreign currency across Nigeria’s borders.

According to him, the command would continue to deploy technology, professional expertise and intelligence-driven measures, alongside inter-agency collaboration, to strengthen border controls and protect the integrity of the country’s financial system.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said while receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, Ebelo commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its professionalism and cooperation with EFCC personnel recently deployed to the airport.

He stressed the need for sustained vigilance at Nigeria’s entry points to curb the illegal movement of currency.

“We must sustain this vigilance at all our entry points to counter the illegal movement of currency. The failure to declare large sums of currency and its equivalent is a violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” Ebelo said.

He urged travellers and members of the public to comply with the law by declaring the currency in their possession when required.

Ebelo clarified that declaring foreign currency does not in itself attract a penalty, noting that legal concerns could arise from the source of funds or failure to make the required declaration.

“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,” he said.

The EFCC official reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting a thorough investigation and, where necessary, prosecuting those found to have violated the law.