Man intercepted with ₦653.9m foreign currency to forfeit funds - Customs

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has said that Ahmed Salisu, a suspect intercepted at the Aminu Kano International Airport with undeclared foreign currencies valued at ₦653.9 million, will forfeit the funds in addition to facing other penalties.

Speaking during a joint press conference in Kano on Tuesday, the Comptroller of Customs for Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Dalhatu Abubakar, and the Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Shazali, said the suspect violated Section 3 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

The law mandates all travellers carrying over $10,000 or its equivalent to declare such amounts to Customs. Failure to do so is a criminal offence.

Salisu, a Kano native holding a Ghanaian passport (G5347658), arrived in Nigeria from Saudi Arabia aboard Ethiopian Airlines at about 12:15 p.m. on Monday. According to officials, he failed to declare the cash despite being reminded to do so.

Acting on intelligence, officials searched the suspect and his luggage, recovering a total of $420,900 USD; 3,946,500 CFA Francs (XOF); 224,000 CFA Francs (XAF); and £5,825 British Pounds Sterling.