By Atoyebi Nike
Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport have intercepted ₦654 million worth of undeclared foreign currency hidden inside cartons of clothing.
The seizure was disclosed during a press briefing on Tuesday at the Customs Command headquarters in Bompai, Kano.
Dalhatu Abubakar, Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, said the operation followed actionable intelligence and led to the arrest of a suspect, Ahmed Salisu, who arrived aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Saudi Arabia.
According to Abubakar, Salisu, a Ghanaian passport holder, was selected for further screening upon arrival. During baggage inspection, officers uncovered multiple cartons filled with clothing, within which large sums of foreign currency were concealed.
“The passenger failed to declare the funds as required by law,” Abubakar noted. “All travelers entering Nigeria with foreign currency exceeding $10,000 are obligated to disclose such sums to Customs officers.”
The currencies recovered include $420,900, £5,825, 3.9 million West African CFA francs, and 224,000 Central African CFA francs amounting to a total value of ₦653.9 million.
The three suspects linked to the undeclared funds have been transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
Comptroller Abubakar said the interception underscores the Customs Service’s collaboration with anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC in safeguarding Nigeria’s financial system and combating illicit financial flows.
“The operation reflects our commitment to enforce fiscal and national security laws. We will continue to work with sister agencies to protect the nation’s economy,” he added.
