EFCC Probes Passenger After Customs Seizes Undeclared Foreign Currencies Worth Over ₦1bn

• Nigeria Customs intercepted more than $73,000, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals—estimated to be worth over ₦1 billion—during two separate operations at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

• A passenger, Haruna Yusuf, has been handed over to the EFCC after officials allegedly uncovered foreign currencies concealed inside footwear and sports shoes to evade detection.

• The anti-graft agency has launched a full investigation into the source, ownership and intended destination of the recovered funds, with prosecution likely if any breach of the law is established.

• Customs and the EFCC say the operation underscores a renewed crackdown on illicit cross-border cash movements and violations of Nigeria’s currency declaration regulations.

August 18, () — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into a passenger, Haruna Yusuf, after the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted undeclared foreign currencies estimated to be worth over ₦1 billion at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

The recovered currencies (comprising $73,000, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals), were discovered during separate passenger screening operations conducted between August 8 and August 12, 2026, in what security officials described as a breakthrough in ongoing efforts to curb illicit financial flows and cross-border cash smuggling.

The suspect and the seized currencies were formally handed over to the EFCC by the Acting Customs Area Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller U.U. Adamu, for further investigation and possible prosecution under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.

Addressing journalists during the handover ceremony, Adamu disclosed that the first interception occurred on August 8 at about 2:20 p.m., when Customs officers carrying out routine passenger screening at the international terminal discovered an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage containing 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300.

According to him, the currencies had been carefully concealed inside footwear in what investigators believe was a deliberate attempt to beat airport security checks and evade Nigeria’s mandatory currency declaration requirements.

The second seizure took place on August 12 at approximately 1:50 p.m., when officers flagged luggage belonging to Haruna Yusuf, who had arrived aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET941.

Adamu said Customs officials subjected the luggage to secondary screening using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, leading to the discovery of an additional $20,000 and £15,957 concealed inside sports shoes packed among personal belongings.

He noted that the suspect was immediately taken into custody before being transferred to the EFCC together with the recovered exhibits for further investigation.

The Acting Comptroller explained that the handover was carried out in line with Section 4(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which empowers the Service to collaborate with other law enforcement and border regulatory agencies in combating financial crimes.

He said the seizures demonstrated the increasing effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations, advanced screening technology and inter-agency collaboration in detecting attempts to move undeclared cash across Nigeria’s borders.

“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,” Adamu said.

EFCC Warns Travellers Against Violating Currency Declaration Laws

Receiving the suspect and the recovered currencies on behalf of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Kano Directorate, ACE I Friday S. Ebelo, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance and professionalism.

Ebelo said the successful interceptions underscored the need for sustained surveillance at airports and other international entry points, warning that authorities would continue to clamp down on illegal cross-border movement of cash.

“We must sustain this vigilance at all our entry points to counter the illegal movement of currency,” he said.

The EFCC official explained that failure to declare foreign currency above the prescribed threshold constitutes an offence under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, stressing that travellers have a legal obligation to disclose large sums of money being brought into or taken out of the country.

He, however, clarified that making the required declaration does not amount to forfeiture of legitimately acquired funds.

“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,” Ebelo stated.

He assured that the EFCC would carry out a thorough investigation into the origin, ownership and intended destination of the intercepted funds before determining the appropriate legal action against the suspect.

Both the EFCC and the Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening intelligence sharing and operational collaboration to combat money laundering, terrorism financing and other forms of transnational financial crime.