EFCC probes suspect over undeclared foreign currencies 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 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
The currencies, comprising $73,000, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals, were intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during routine screening of arriving passengers between August 8 and August 12, 2026.
The investigation commenced after the Acting Customs Area Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command, Deputy Comptroller U.U. Adamu, formally handed over Yusuf and the recovered currencies to the EFCC at the Customs Area Command in Kano.
According to Adamu, the first interception occurred on August 8 at about 2:20 p.m., when officers screening passengers at MAKIA discovered an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage containing 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300 concealed inside footwear.
He said a second interception was made on August 12 at about 1:50 p.m., when officers flagged a luggage belonging to Yusuf, who arrived at the airport aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941. Secondary screening using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology led to the discovery of $20,000 and £15,957 concealed inside sports shoes.
Adamu said the suspect and all recovered exhibits were subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution in accordance with Section 4(f) of the NCS Act 2023, which empowers the Customs Service to collaborate with other border regulatory agencies.
Receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, the Acting Zonal Director of the Kano Directorate, ACE1 Friday S. Ebelo, commended the Customs Service for its cooperation and urged travellers to comply with currency declaration requirements. “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.
Ebelo stressed that declaring foreign currency attracts no penalty, noting that legal concerns may arise from the source of undeclared funds.
