The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has initiated an investigation into a significant currency seizure at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The funds, totaling $86,500, 305,150 Saudi Riyals, and 200 Euros, were intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Sunday, April 27, 2025.
The funds were discovered hidden inside an unaccompanied bag, which was suspected to have been smuggled into the country.
The bag was intercepted after a clearing agent, Sale Bala, attempted to retrieve it. Upon inspection, Customs officers uncovered the foreign currencies concealed within bed spreads (duvets) and date packs tucked inside the luggage.
Following the discovery, two suspects, Bala and Abdullahi Tahir, were arrested. Tahir was reportedly tasked with receiving the bag after it cleared Customs.
The funds were subsequently handed over to the EFCC by Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdulahi Hashim, and were received on behalf of the Commission by Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Aminu Bashir.
Both suspects, along with the seized funds, are currently in the custody of the EFCC and will face charges in court once investigations are concluded.
The EFCC praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance and underscored the importance of inter-agency cooperation in safeguarding the nation’s economy.
The Commission, in partnership with Customs and other stakeholders, is intensifying efforts to educate the public about the legal requirements for cash movement into and out of Nigeria.
A sensitization program held on April 26, 2025, by the EFCC, ICPC, and NCS, aimed to educate various stakeholders, including the bureau de change community, travel agencies, airport authorities, and the Kano Chamber of Commerce & Industry, about the legal regulations governing cash movement in the country.
