Customs Nabs Passenger with Foreign Currencies Worth ₦653.9m Hidden in Cartons

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted a large sum of undeclared foreign currency, including $420,900, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The seizure was disclosed on Tuesday at a press briefing held at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano.

Dalhatu Abubakar, Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, said the interception followed “credible intelligence and a clearance operation by officers at the airport.”

The suspect, identified as Ahmed Salisu, a passenger with a Ghanaian passport, was flagged after arriving from Saudi Arabia aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

“Upon arrival, the suspect, like other passengers, was reminded of the legal obligation to declare foreign currencies exceeding $10,000,” Abubakar said.

A physical inspection of the suspect’s baggage reportedly led to the discovery of the currencies concealed in cartons of clothing.

The total haul, according to customs, includes $420,900, £5,825, 3.9 million West African CFA Francs, and 224,000 Central African CFA Francs — all valued at approximately ₦653.9 million.

Abubakar noted that “the suspect failed to declare the funds on arrival as required by law.”

Three suspects have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.

A representative of the EFCC confirmed the handover during the briefing, adding that the case would be prosecuted under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.