Customs Intercepts $461,600 at Kano Airport, Hands Suspects to EFCC
The Nigeria Customs Service has intensified efforts against illicit cross-border cash movement following the interception of 461,600 United States dollars from two inbound passengers at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Tahir Balarabe.
According to the statement, the two suspects, a male and female passenger, arrived in Kano from Dubai aboard Ethiopian Airlines on Friday, May 8, 2026.
Balarabe explained that the passengers initially declared $130,000 and $180,000 respectively. However, further non-intrusive baggage profiling raised suspicion, leading officers to conduct a secondary examination of their luggage.
The additional search uncovered another $151,600 concealed and undeclared, bringing the total intercepted amount to $461,600.
Speaking during the formal handover of the suspects and exhibits, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu, said the interception demonstrated the Service’s increasing vigilance against illicit financial flows through Nigeria’s borders.
He stated that the suspects violated provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which mandates travellers to make truthful currency declarations.
“The suspects contravened Section 55(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. In line with Section 4(f) of the same Act, we are formally handing over the suspects, the intercepted currencies, and all relevant travel documents to the EFCC for further investigation,” he said.
Adamu commended the leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for sustained collaboration and also praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for strengthening intelligence-driven enforcement operations through continuous training.
Receiving the suspects and exhibits on behalf of the EFCC, the Acting Zonal Director in Kano, Friday Ebelo, applauded the professionalism of Customs officers during the operation.
Ebelo noted that failure to declare currencies above the legal threshold constitutes a serious financial offence under Nigerian law.
“Any traveller carrying funds above 10,000 dollars is expected by law to declare it. Anything short of that raises serious concerns about money laundering. I want to assure you that this case will be pursued to its logical conclusion,” he said.
The suspects, intercepted funds, and relevant documents were officially handed over to the EFCC on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Command Headquarters in Bompai, Kano.