The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kano/Jigawa Area Command has achieved a significant victory in combating illegal financial activities following the seizure of undeclared foreign currencies valued at over N653 million at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
During a press conference held on Monday, July 8, 2025, at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano, officials announced the interception and formally transferred the confiscated funds along with three suspects to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for continued investigation and potential prosecution.
The Operation
Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, for the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, characterized the operation as a significant achievement in the ongoing battle against financial crimes linked to smuggling operations and money laundering activities.
The suspect, Ahmed Salisu, who holds a Ghanaian passport, was apprehended following his arrival from Saudi Arabia on an Ethiopian Airlines flight. Acting on reliable intelligence, customs officers conducted additional screening procedures that revealed the concealed currency.
“When passengers arrive, they receive standard reminders about the legal requirement to declare foreign currencies exceeding $10,000. This individual chose not to comply,” Comptroller Abubakar explained. “However, our officers, following credible intelligence, conducted thorough additional checks that uncovered foreign currencies hidden within clothing cartons.”
The Discovery
The comprehensive baggage search revealed substantial amounts of undeclared currency:
- $420,900 in US dollars
- £5,825 in British pounds sterling
- 3,946,500 West African CFA francs
- 224,000 Central African CFA francs
The combined value of these currencies exceeds ₦653.9 million.
Official Response
Comptroller Abubakar emphasized that this successful operation demonstrates the Service’s dedication to national security and reflects the productive partnerships with agencies like the EFCC and ICPC in protecting Nigeria’s financial and territorial sovereignty.
“This arrest showcases the effectiveness of proactive enforcement, ongoing stakeholder education, and our enhanced focus on border monitoring. Our mission extends beyond detection to deterrence. This should serve as a clear warning to criminal organizations: we maintain constant vigilance and will take decisive action,” he stated.
The operation connects to broader initiatives launched this year under Comptroller-General Adeniyi’s leadership to educate stakeholders about currency declaration requirements at border crossings. The Command has conducted awareness campaigns throughout Kano and Jigawa, targeting Bureau de Change operators, travel agencies, airline companies, and pilgrim boards.
EFCC Collaboration
The EFCC’s zonal director praised the collaborative relationship between the agencies and confirmed the Commission’s commitment to pursuing legal action in this case.
“Speaking for Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, we acknowledge the Nigeria Customs Service’s vigilance and cooperation. This case transcends monetary concerns—it represents a national security issue. Cash smuggling serves as a crucial funding mechanism for terrorism, banditry, and international criminal activities,” the official noted.
The seizure and arrest align with provisions in the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, both requiring mandatory declaration of foreign currency amounts exceeding $10,000 at Nigerian borders.
The EFCC representative commended the customs officers involved in the operation while encouraging stakeholders, particularly in the aviation and financial sectors, to maintain alertness and continue providing intelligence to prevent future violations.
