EFCC investigates traveller over $265,000 allegedly concealed at Kano airport

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has opened an investigation into a traveller arrested with $265,000 in cash at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the agency said. The commission said Nigeria Customs Service officials intercepted Adam Musa Adam during a routine screening operation. Adam, who holds a Nigerian passport, had arrived from New Delhi on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941, according to an EFCC statement issued on Tuesday.

Customs officials referred his luggage for secondary examination using non-intrusive inspection technology. The currency was allegedly found concealed among his personal belongings and had not been declared, the statement said. Customs later handed Adam and the money to the EFCC in Kano.

The acting Customs area controller in Kano, Deputy Comptroller Usman Umar Adamu, said moving foreign currency above the approved threshold without declaration contravened the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023. He said the command had intercepted undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments worth more than N2.5 billion since January. Passengers travelling with more than $10,000 in cash are required by law to declare it to airport authorities.

Receiving the suspect and exhibits, EFCC acting zonal director Friday Ebelo said the commission would investigate and prosecute the case according to its mandate. He described the handover as evidence of cooperation between Customs and the EFCC in tackling illicit financial flows. The EFCC has previously handled cases involving undeclared funds at Nigerian airports, including arrests, prosecutions and convictions.

The supplied statement did not indicate whether Adam had been charged in court or entered a plea.