The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun investigating a passenger arrested with $265,000 in undeclared currency at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The suspect, Adam Musa Adam, a male Nigerian passport holder, arrived from New Delhi on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941 on Sunday 26 September 2026. Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted him during routine screening. His luggage was flagged for secondary examination using non-intrusive inspection technology, which led to the discovery of the cash concealed among his personal belongings.
Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Umar Adamu, the Acting Customs Area Controller, handed the suspect and the exhibits over to the EFCC. He said the movement of 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.
Adamu noted that from January to date the command has intercepted undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments with a total value of more than N2.5 billion. He said the handover was in line with section 4(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Assistant Commander Friday S. Ebelo, the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC in Kano, received the suspect and exhibits. He described the handover as evidence of interagency collaboration and a shared resolve to sanitise the country’s financial system.
“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 thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for creating an enabling environment for the partnership and commended Adamu and his officers for their vigilance in enforcing the laws on the cross-border movement of currency.
Speaking on behalf of the EFCC Executive Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, Ebelo expressed gratitude to Adeniyi for the sustained partnership between the two agencies.
By A.Ikechukwu
