Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have intercepted undeclared foreign currencies totalling $106,500 and 134,256 Saudi Riyals at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, flagging the seizure as a suspected money laundering attempt.
The interception occurred on January 5, 2026 and was disclosed publicly on Tuesday March 10 by Acting Area Controller of the Kano-Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Usman Umar Adamu, during his maiden press briefing at the Customs House in Bompai, Kano.
The currencies were among several notable seizures recorded by the command between January 1 and March 10, 2026.
Suspects arrested in connection with the undeclared currencies and precious metals have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation. The EFCC will determine whether formal charges will be filed in connection with the interception.
The foreign currency seizure formed part of a much wider anti-smuggling operation that yielded significant results across Kano and Jigawa States over the same period. The command recorded detentions and seizures of nine major categories of items with a total Duty Paid Value of N1,018,971,728.02 achieved through intelligence driven operations, coordinated patrols and strategic surveillance across key border corridors in both states in collaboration with other security agencies.
Among the most alarming seizures within the same period was the interception of pharmaceutical contraband at the same airport. Customs officers seized 503 master cartons of Pregabalin 300mg capsules under the Nervigesic brand containing over 15 million capsules valued at N729.9 million at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company facility at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The drugs, which lacked NAFDAC registration, were handed over to the agency for investigation. NAFDAC’s Director of Investigation and Enforcement Martins Iluyomade confirmed the handover, saying the operation prevented more than 15 million Nigerians from consuming counterfeit medicines.
The command also recorded wildlife related interceptions including a live lion cub and pangolins in violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, with several suspects arrested and handed over to relevant authorities for prosecution.
Nigerian law requires all travellers to declare cash or negotiable instruments exceeding approved thresholds when entering or leaving the country. Failure to comply constitutes a violation of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and the Foreign Exchange Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 1995 both of which carry severe penalties including forfeiture of the undeclared funds and prosecution.
