EFCC begins investigations into $73,000, £15,957 & 827,800 SAR intercepted at Kano airport

The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced investigation into a suspect, Haruna Yusuf, following the interception of undeclared foreign currencies worth $73,000, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA.

The currencies were intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, during routine screening of arriving passengers between August 8 and August 12, 2026.

The suspect and the recovered currencies were handed over to the EFCC by the Acting Customs Area Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command, Deputy Comptroller U.U. Adamu, at the Customs Area Command in Kano.

The Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Kano Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I), Friday S. Ebelo, received the suspect and exhibits on behalf of the Commission.

According to Adamu, the Customs Service made two separate interceptions during the period under review.

He said that on August 8, 2026, at about 2:20 p.m., officers conducting passenger screening at the baggage section of MAKIA intercepted an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage containing 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300.

“The currencies were found concealed inside a footwear,” Adamu stated.

He added that on August 12, 2026, at about 1:50 p.m., Customs officers flagged a luggage belonging to Yusuf, who arrived at MAKIA aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941.

“During secondary screening using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, $20,000 USD and £15,957 were found concealed inside sportswear shoes,” he said.

Adamu thereafter formally handed over Yusuf and the recovered exhibits to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.

He said the handover was in line with Section 4(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which empowers the Service to collaborate with other border regulatory agencies.

Adamu said the interceptions demonstrated the vigilance of Customs officers in detecting the cross-border movement of undeclared foreign currencies above the permissible threshold.

“The Command will continue to deploy technology, professional expertise and intelligence-driven measures, including inter-agency collaboration, to strengthen border controls and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s financial systems,” he said.

Receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, Mr Ebelo commended the Customs Service for its professionalism and cooperation with EFCC personnel recently deployed to the airport.

“We must sustain this vigilance at all our entry points to counter the illegal movement of currency. The failure to declare large sums of currency and its equivalent is a violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” he said.

Mr Ebelo urged members of the public to comply with the law, stressing that declaring currency does not attract any penalty, while the source of undeclared funds could raise legal concerns.

“Once more, we call on the general public: as much as we are Nigerians and we encourage trade in and out of the country, people must adhere to the laws of the land. You must declare the currency you are carrying. If you declare it, nobody will seize your currency,” he said.

He reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to conducting thorough investigations and pursuing prosecution where necessary, stressing that the Commission would continue to act within the provisions of the law.

Both Messrs Ebelo and Adamu commended the longstanding collaboration between the EFCC and NCS, describing the partnership as critical to combating financial crimes and the illegal movement of cash across Nigeria’s borders.