The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has commenced an investigation into two suspects arrested with a total of $461,600 in undeclared cash at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The suspects, identified as Jamilu Shuaibu Waya and Usman Namadi, were intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, after arriving from Dubai aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941 on Friday, May 8, 2026.
According to the EFCC, both suspects initially declared $130,000 and $180,000 respectively at the airport’s currency declaration desk. However, a subsequent physical examination conducted by Customs officers reportedly uncovered an additional undeclared $120,000 on Waya and $31,600 on Namadi.
The discovery brought the total amount recovered from the two men to $461,600, an act authorities said contravenes Sections 3 and 4 of Nigeria’s Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Speaking during the formal handover of the suspects and recovered funds, the Acting Customs Area Controller, UU Adamu, commended the longstanding partnership between the Customs Service and the EFCC in tackling financial crimes and illegal cross-border cash movement.
Adamu said the continued collaboration between both agencies has remained instrumental in achieving their shared objective of combating illicit financial transactions.
Receiving the suspects on behalf of the EFCC, the Kano Zonal Director of the commission, Friday S. Ebelo, assured that the anti-graft agency would conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter and ensure diligent prosecution if any violations are established.
Ebelo also praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its consistent cooperation, stressing that inter-agency collaboration remains critical in the fight against money laundering and illicit financial flows.
Following the handover, the suspects, recovered funds, and other exhibits were transferred to the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Directorate for further investigation and possible prosecution.
