The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started investigating a suspect, Adam Musa Adam, who was arrested with $265,000 cash at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano State. According to the EFCC, operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted Mr. Adam during a routine screening operation. He was arriving from New Delhi aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET941.
The NCS officials flagged Mr. Adam's luggage for secondary examination using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, leading to the discovery of the undeclared currency concealed among his personal belongings. The EFCC said Customs authorities handed over the suspect and the exhibits to the commission at the Customs area office in Kano. The handover was done in line with Section 4(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Usman Umar Adamu, stated 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. He noted that from January to date, his command has intercepted undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments with a total value of over N2.5 billion.
The Kano Acting Zonal Director of EFCC, Friday Ebelo, received the suspect and exhibits on behalf of the commission. He described the event as an example of meaningful interagency collaboration and commended Mr. Adamu and his officers for their vigilance and commitment to enforcing the laws governing cross-border movement of currency. Mr. Ebelo said the EFCC would further investigate and prosecute the case to its logical conclusion.
Mr. Ebelo expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for creating an enabling environment for the collaboration. He also thanked the Comptroller-General for the sustained partnership between the EFCC and the NCS. The EFCC has been working with the NCS to enforce laws against undeclared funds.
The NCS has handed over several Nigerians and foreigners caught with undeclared funds on their arrival in Nigeria in recent times. In March 2025, the NCS intercepted $193,000 in undeclared foreign currency concealed in a yoghurt carton at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. In October that year, two men were arrested with undeclared cash of $6,180 and £53,415 at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos.
The EFCC has also prosecuted individuals who attempted to transport undeclared funds out of Nigeria. In March 2025, Okorie Sunday, a Nigerian, was convicted and sentenced to six months in prison with funds forfeited after failing to declare $299,000 and €100. Similarly, in May 2025, Agudosi Okechukwu, another Nigerian, received a six-month prison sentence for attempting to transport undeclared amounts of £8,020 and $704.
Key points
- The EFCC is investigating Adam Musa Adam for attempting to smuggle $265,000 into Nigeria without declaring it.
- The NCS has intercepted over N2.5 billion in undeclared foreign currency and other negotiable instruments from January to date.
- The EFCC and NCS are working together to enforce laws against undeclared funds and prevent illicit financial flows.
