The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted foreign currencies worth over ₦650 million at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.
The Area Comptroller, Dalhatu Abubakar, disclosed this during the official handover of the seized currencies and the suspect to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the Customs headquarters in Kano.
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He revealed that the money was confiscated from a Ghanaian national, Ahmad Salisu, who arrived from Saudi Arabia via Ethiopian Airlines on July 7, 2025. Customs officers apprehended the suspect after he failed to declare the large sums of foreign currency in his possession, as required by law.
“A thorough search of his luggage uncovered $420,900, 3,946,500 West African CFA francs (XOF), 224,000 Central African CFA francs (XAF), and 5,825 British Pounds Sterling,” said Comptroller Abubakar. “The total value was estimated at ₦650,987,268.50.”
He noted that the seizure and arrest were made possible through close collaboration with the EFCC.
In his remarks, the EFCC Zonal Director, Ibrahim Shazali, commended the Nigerian Customs Service for its vigilance and emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in the fight against financial crimes.
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“Our surveillance is active, our intelligence is sharp, and our resolve to apprehend offenders is unwavering,” Shazali said.
He further highlighted the legal framework that mandates currency declaration by travelers:
“Section 3 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Section 55F of the Nigerian Customs Service Act 2023 require that any traveler entering or leaving Nigeria must declare any currency or negotiable instrument exceeding $10,000.”
The EFCC official urged members of the public to report suspicious movements of large cash sums, reiterating the commitment of both agencies to upholding financial integrity and combating economic crimes in Nigeria.