Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Command, has intercepted three suspects with an illicit sum of N653.9 million at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

The suspects were arrested with foreign currency concealed in a suitcase on arrival from Saudi Arabia.

While handing over the exhibits to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, told journalists the foreign currencies were smuggled into the country via Ethiopia Airlines.

The comptroller revealed that men of the command intercepted the fund on July 7 at about 12:15 p.m. from one of the suspects, Ahmed Salisu, who had a Ghanaian passport.

Although the comptroller could not ascertain the nationality of the suspects, he said the Customs later uncovered the affinity of Salisu with the two other suspects.

He said the suspects were arrested based on intelligence by vigilant officers at the airport after the suspects failed to provide evidence of a declaration of the foreign currencies.

According to him, Section 3 of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022, as well as Section 55(f) of the NCS Act 2023, mandate travellers with currencies or other negotiable instruments above $10, 000 to declare them to Customs.

Reacting to the development, EFCC Zonal Director, Kano, Ibrahim Shazali, said the seizures were effected under the clear provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2022 and relevant sections of the NCS Act 2023, which strictly regulate the movement of currency across Nigerian borders.

MEANWHILE, the NCS has engaged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), other law enforcement agencies, and airline operators to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing among travellers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The NCS, yesterday, held an Awareness Forum on Passengers/Traveller’s Guide themed, “Anti-money Laundering/Counter Financing Terrorism Procedures,” at the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria Conference Room at the MMIA Wing with the aim of exiting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list on financial crimes.

Participants included FAAN, security agencies, airline operators, private hangers, courier companies, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), handling companies, customs agents associations, and the National Association of Travel Agencies.

The Customs Area Comptroller (CAC), MMIA, Effiong Harrison, said the forum was apt, especially as it concerned inward and outward declaration of foreign currencies, negotiable instruments, precious stones or metals at the designated desk of the NCS Anti-Money Laundering Unit.

The Assistant Commander, EFCC, Ibinabo Amachree, provided legal clarity on what constitutes the offence of non-declaration, stressing that such offences are considered strict liability under the Money Laundering Act.

According to him, it means suspects can be prosecuted and convicted regardless of their intent or knowledge of the law.