The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced investigation into a suspected case of illegal cash smuggling involving a total sum of $420,900, £5,825 and CFA3,946,500, following the arrest of three individuals at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
Ahmad Salisu was first intercepted by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, during a routine check on Monday, July 7, 2025. He was found with foreign currencies carefully concealed in a polythene bag wrapped in clothes and fabrics within his luggage. In addition to the dollars and pounds, officials also discovered 3,946,500 West African CFA francs and 224,000 Cameroonian CFA.
Upon interrogation, Salisu reportedly told investigators that he was acting on behalf of his brother, Auwal Ahmad, who is currently in Saudi Arabia. He said the money was meant to be delivered to two men, Yusuf Adamu and Abdulhamid Rabiu. Both individuals were later arrested when they arrived to collect the funds.
The Customs formally handed over the suspects and the seized currencies to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
During a joint press briefing held at the Nigeria Customs Service Kano/Jigawa Area Command, the Kano Zonal Director of EFCC, Ibrahim Shazali, reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to tackle financial crimes in collaboration with other agencies.
“The EFCC and the Nigerian Customs Service, working in concert, have zero tolerance for illegal cash smuggling,” Shazali declared. “Our surveillance is active, our intelligence is sharp, and our resolve to apprehend offenders is unwavering. Attempting to circumvent our financial laws and border controls is a futile and costly endeavour.”
He also called on stakeholders within the aviation and financial sectors to report suspicious movements of large cash volumes. “Protecting the integrity of our economy is a collective responsibility,” he added.
In his remarks, the Customs Area Comptroller, Dalhatu Abubakar, emphasized that declaring large sums of money at entry and exit points is part of Nigeria’s legal framework to prevent money laundering and terror financing.
“These measures are aimed at controlling the flow of funds to criminal networks, terrorists, bandits and drug barons whose activities jeopardize our national security,” he stated.
The EFCC has confirmed that the suspects will soon be arraigned in court.
