A Ghanaian national, Ahmad Salisu, was arrested on Monday at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) for allegedly attempting to launder over ₦650 million in undeclared foreign currency.
The arrest was carried out by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Salisu, who arrived from Saudi Arabia aboard Ethiopian Airlines at approximately 12:15 p.m. on July 7, 2025, was found in possession of large sums of U.S. dollars, British pounds, and West African CFA francs. He holds a Ghanaian passport with number G5347658.
At a joint press briefing on Tuesday, the Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Customs Command, Dalhatu Abubakar, and the Zonal Director of the EFCC Kano Command, Ibrahim Shazali, described the arrest as a significant breakthrough in efforts to curb money laundering at Nigerian borders.
Abubakar explained that the suspect failed to declare the foreign currencies in his possession upon arrival, as required by law for amounts exceeding $10,000 or its equivalent.
“A search of his baggage revealed the following: 420,900 U.S. dollars, 3,946,500 CFA Francs (XOF), 224,000 CFA Francs (XAF), and 5,825 British pounds sterling,” Abubakar disclosed.
He said the total value of the intercepted cash amounts to ₦653,987,268.50 in Nigerian currency.
“This is a major milestone in our ongoing efforts to secure our borders from financial crimes,” he added. “The ever-evolving tactics of criminals demand constant vigilance and collaboration among security agencies.”
While handing over the seized money to the EFCC, Zonal Director Ibrahim Shazali praised the operation and emphasized its significance.
“This interception is not only about the huge sum recovered, but also a strong message that criminal activities of this nature will not go unchecked,” Shazali said.
