The Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has handed over suspects and undeclared foreign currencies valued at over ₦653, 987, 268.5 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This was disclosed during a handover event in Kano on 8th July,2025.
While addressing journalists, the Customs Area Controller of the command , Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar , highlighted the operation as an achievement and a testament to the Service’s resolve to enforce anti-money laundering laws and secure Nigeria’s borders.
He said that the interception occurred at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on July 7, 2025, when Customs officers, while acting on intelligence, flagged a passenger arriving from Saudi Arabia onboard Ethiopian Airlines for further checks and the the suspect, identified as Ahmed Salisu, a Ghanaian national, was found in possession of substantial amounts of undeclared foreign currencies concealed in his luggage.
According to the CAC, the seizure includes $420,900 in US Dollars, £5,825 in British Pounds, 3,946,500 Nigerien CFA Francs, and 224,000 Cameroonian CFA Francs. These were discovered despite the suspect being reminded of the statutory requirement to declare any amount exceeding $10,000 at the port of entry valued the total recovered sum of ₦653,987,268.50.
He also reaffirmed that the action taken was in line with Section 3 of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and Section 55(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and emphasised the importance of currency declaration as a key tool in combating terrorism financing, money laundering, and organized crime, which continue to threaten national security.
Abubakar , further noted that the interception was a result of sustained public sensitization efforts initiated by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, with efforts which included workshops in partnership with EFCC and ICPC, targeting stakeholders like Bureau de Change operators, airlines, and travel agencies.
Also speaking at the briefing ,the Zonal Director, EFCC Kano Command, expressed deep appreciation for the longstanding partnership between the EFCC and the Nigeria Customs Service. He commended the Kano/Jigawa Command for what he described as “a well-coordinated and intelligence-driven operation that reinforces the frontline role of Customs in economic security.”
He noted that the suspect’s failure to declare the large sum of money was a breach of Nigerian law and an intentional attempt to undermine the country’s financial integrity.
According to him, the offense fits squarely into the definition of money laundering activities and will be treated with the seriousness it deserves.
He further explained that the EFCC has commenced a full-scale investigation into the source, purpose, and intended recipients of the funds, with a view to identifying any broader criminal networks involved and the suspect is currently in custody, while investigators are following up on leads both within and outside the country. He assured the public that the EFCC would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is served.
The Zonal Director also seized the opportunity to call on stakeholders in the aviation sector, Bureau de Change operators, financial institutions, and travel agencies to be more vigilant and proactive in reporting suspicious transactions or movements of large sums of cash.
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to collaborative law enforcement and emphasized that strong inter-agency cooperation, as demonstrated in the case, remains the most effective weapon against economic and financial crimes.
