The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation into a passenger arrested with $265,000 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State.
The EFCC disclosed this in a post on its official X account on Tuesday, saying the suspect was arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during routine screening operations at the airport.
The suspect, Adam Musa Adam, a Nigerian passport holder, was intercepted on September 26 after arriving from New Delhi aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941.
His luggage was flagged for secondary examination using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, leading to the discovery of the undeclared cash concealed among his personal belongings.
Customs subsequently handed Adam and the money over to the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate for investigation.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Usman Umar Adamu, said moving foreign currency above the approved threshold without declaration contravenes Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
He said the command had intercepted undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments worth more than N2.5bn since January.
Receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of the EFCC, the Acting Kano Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Friday S. Ebelo, described the handover as an example of inter-agency collaboration in tackling illicit financial activities.
“The EFCC will conduct and carry out its established mandate by further investigating and prosecuting this case to its logical conclusion. In the life of a people, there comes a time that certain institutions become the beacon of hope by safeguarding our economy against illicit financial flows,” Ebelo said.
He commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for supporting the collaboration between both agencies.
Ebelo also praised the Customs officers for their vigilance and enforcement of regulations governing the cross-border movement of currency.
The EFCC said the investigation would determine the circumstances surrounding the undeclared $265,000 and guide further action in the case.
