The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that Ahmed Salisu, a suspect intercepted at the Aminu Kano International Airport with undeclared foreign currencies valued at ₦653.9 million, will forfeit the funds in addition to facing other penalties.
Speaking during a joint press conference in Kano on Tuesday, the Comptroller of Customs for Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Dalhatu Abubakar, and the Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Shazali, said the suspect violated Section 3 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
The law mandates all travellers carrying over $10,000 or its equivalent to declare such amounts to Customs. Failure to do so is a criminal offence.
Salisu, a Kano native holding a Ghanaian passport (G5347658), arrived in Nigeria from Saudi Arabia aboard Ethiopian Airlines at about 12:15 p.m. on Monday. According to officials, he failed to declare the cash despite being reminded to do so.
Acting on intelligence, officials searched the suspect and his luggage, recovering a total of $420,900 USD; 3,946,500 CFA Francs (XOF); 224,000 CFA Francs (XAF); and £5,825 British Pounds Sterling.
Authorities confirmed that the seized funds will be forfeited in accordance with relevant laws, as investigations continue.
“The total amount of interception in Naira is valued at 653,987,268.5 million Naira.
“It is important to mention that the ever-changing dynamics of these criminals present a challenge to law enforcement.
“The concealment of these huge amounts of currency in cartons of clothing represents the height of desperation to distract attention,” the comptroller said.
Comptroller Abubakar added that: “Terrorists acquire weapons, machinery and other logistics to inflict harm on our citizens without which they cannot operate.
“Therefore, as our law enforcement agencies take on the fight against the criminals, we must also seek to cut the very oxygen that sustains the crime, which is the financing.”
The suspect and exhibits were handed over to the EFCC Zonal Director, Ibrahim Shazali, for further investigations.
Mr. Shazali described the crime as “illegal cash smuggling,” noting that “attempting to circumvent our financial laws and border controls is a futile and costly endeavour.”
