Customs Intercepts $265,000 Concealed Cash at Kano Airport, Hands Over Suspect to EFCC

Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) have intercepted an inbound passenger carrying $265,000 in undeclared foreign currency and officially handed over the suspect and cash to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution.

The suspect, identified as Adam Musa Adam, a Nigerian passport holder, arrived at the airport on Sunday, September 26, 2026, aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET941 from New Delhi, India.

Customs officials disclosed that the suspect was apprehended during routine border security screening operations. His luggage was selected for secondary examination using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology (scanners), which exposed the illicit foreign currency hidden among his personal effects.

Speaking during the official handover ceremony, the Acting Customs Area Controller for the command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Umar Adamu, emphasized that carrying foreign currency above prescribed legal limits without statutory declaration violates Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, as well as provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

Adamu revealed that the MAKIA Customs Command has maintained an aggressive posture against illicit financial flows, noting that between January and September 2026, the command has seized undeclared foreign currencies and negotiable monetary instruments valued at over N2.5 billion. He added that transferring the case to the anti-graft agency complies directly with Section 4(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

EFCC Vows Full Prosecution to Protect Financial Integrity

Receiving the suspect and cash exhibits on behalf of the EFCC, the Kano Acting Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE1) Friday S. Ebelo, assured the public that the commission will conduct a comprehensive investigation to ensure justice is served.

Ebelo commended the seamless operational collaboration between Customs officers and EFCC operatives at the airport, describing border monitoring as essential to safeguarding the national economy against money laundering and illicit capital flight.

“The EFCC will conduct and carry out its established mandate by further investigating and prosecuting this case to its logical conclusion,” Ebelo stated. “In the life of a people, there comes a time when certain institutions become the beacon of hope by safeguarding our economy against illicit financial flows.”

He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for nurturing strong interagency cooperation, while commending Deputy Comptroller Adamu and his team for their vigilance in enforcing cross-border currency regulations.