EFCC probes suspect over undeclared $73,000, £15,957, 827,800 Saudi Riyals at Kano airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into Haruna Yusuf over the alleged possession of undeclared foreign currencies intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The currencies, comprising $73,000, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals, were intercepted during routine screening of arriving passengers between August 8 and 12.

In a statement issued on Monday, the EFCC said U. U. Adamu, acting customs area comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command, disclosed that officers intercepted an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage on August 8 containing 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300 concealed inside footwear.

Four days later, customs officers intercepted a luggage belonging to Yusuf, who arrived in Kano aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941.

Adamu said secondary screening with non-intrusive inspection technology uncovered $20,000 and £15,957 concealed inside sports shoes.

He subsequently handed Yusuf and the recovered currencies over to the EFCC on behalf of the NCS.

The EFCC statement did not clarify whether Yusuf was the owner of the unaccompanied luggage containing the Saudi Riyals and $53,300.

Adamu said the interceptions demonstrated the vigilance of customs officers in detecting the movement of undeclared foreign currencies across the country’s borders.

He added that the NCS would continue to strengthen its collaboration with the EFCC and other relevant agencies in the fight against financial crimes.

Receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, Friday S. Ebelo, acting zonal director of the EFCC Kano Directorate, said the failure to declare large sums of foreign currency constituted a violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Ebelo urged travellers to comply with existing currency declaration requirements, noting that declaring money does not attract any penalty, while legal concerns could arise regarding the source of undeclared funds.

He said the EFCC would conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute the matter in accordance with the law.