EFCC investigates traveller arrested with $265,000 at Kano airport
Nigeria’s EFCC has opened an investigation into a Nigerian passenger arrested at Kano airport with $265,000 in undeclared currency. Customs officers intercepted the money during secondary screening after the passenger arrived from New Delhi. Officials say the movement of currency above the permitted threshold without declaration breaches Nigerian law.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun investigating a traveller arrested with $265,000 at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State. The suspect, a Nigerian passport holder, arrived from New Delhi on Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET941. Nigeria Customs Service officers intercepted him on Sunday during routine screening after his luggage was selected for secondary examination.
According to EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, a non-intrusive inspection led to the discovery of the undeclared foreign currency concealed among the passenger’s belongings. Customs subsequently handed the suspect and the money to the EFCC for further investigation. Acting Customs Area Controller Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu said moving foreign currency above the approved threshold without declaring it contravened sections of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Adamu said the command had intercepted undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments worth more than ₦2.5 billion from January to date. The source did not provide a breakdown of that figure or say whether charges had been filed in the present case. Receiving the suspect on behalf of the EFCC, Kano Acting Zonal Director Friday Ebelo said the commission would investigate and prosecute the case according to its mandate.
He described the handover as an example of cooperation between the two agencies. Ebelo commended Customs Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi, Adamu and the officers involved for supporting enforcement of rules governing the cross-border movement of currency. The EFCC said the investigation would continue to its logical conclusion.
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