EFCC Probes Suspect Over Multi-Million Foreign Currency Seizure at Kano Airport

​KANO — The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has taken over the investigation of one Haruna Yusuf alongside massive stashes of undeclared foreign currencies intercepted at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

​The seizure, valued at $73,000 USD, £15,957 British Pounds, and 827,800 Saudi Riyals, was executed by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during routine screening operations.

​The Acting Customs Area Comptroller for the Kano/Jigawa Command, Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu, formally transferred the suspect and the recovered physical cash exhibits to the EFCC at the command headquarters in Kano.

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​Sophisticated Concealment Methods Uncovered

​According to Customs authorities, the illicit funds were intercepted in two separate intelligence-led operations between August 8 and August 12, 2026, after routine primary and secondary checks flagged anomalies exceeding legally permitted thresholds.

• ​The First Interception (August 8): Customs officers monitoring the baggage section intercepted an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage. Upon inspection, 827,800 Saudi Riyals alongside an additional $53,300 USD were discovered cleverly concealed inside footwear.

• ​The Second Interception (August 12): Operatives flagged incoming passenger Haruna Yusuf, who arrived at MAKIA aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight (ET941). Utilizing Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, secondary screening exposed $20,000 USD and £15,957 hidden inside sportswear shoes.

​Following the hand-over, Deputy Comptroller Adamu emphasized that the successful catch underlines the heightened readiness of border security. He noted that the action aligns closely with Section 4(f) of the NCS Act 2023, which mandates inter-agency cooperation to protect Nigeria’s financial and economic borders.

​EFCC Warns Against Non-Declaration

​Receiving the suspect and cash exhibits on behalf of EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede, the Kano Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I) Friday S. Ebelo, lauded the stellar operational synergy between the anti-graft agency and the Customs Service.

​Ebelo stressed that failing to declare large volumes of physical cash moving across national borders directly infringes upon the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

​”We must sustain this vigilance at all our entry points to counter the illegal movement of currency,” Ebelo stated. He further clarified that statutory declarations of cash involve zero penalty fees, urging international travelers to remain transparent. “If you declare it, nobody will seize your currency; only undeclared funds attract legal scrutiny regarding their source”.

​The EFCC confirmed that comprehensive investigations into Haruna Yusuf are ongoing, with subsequent arraignment expected upon the conclusion of preliminary inquiries.