The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation into a suspect arrested with $265,000 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano State.
The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, the suspect, Adam Musa Adam, a male passenger with a Nigerian passport arriving from New Delhi aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET941, was intercepted on Sunday during routine screening by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
“His luggage was flagged for secondary examination using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, leading to the discovery of the undeclared currency concealed among his personal belongings.
“The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Usman Adamu, handed over the suspect and exhibits to the EFCC.
“Adamu reiterated that 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, as well as relevant provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.”
According to him, the command had intercepted undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments worth more than N2.5 billion from January to date.
Oyewale said the Kano Acting Zonal Director, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Friday Ebelo, received the suspect on behalf of the commission.
Ebelo described the incident as an example of meaningful interagency collaboration, from the activities at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport to the strategic handover.
“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 expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for creating an enabling environment for the collaboration.
He also commended Adamu and his officers for their vigilance and commitment to enforcing the laws governing the cross-border movement of currency.
