The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted suspected smuggled precious metals valued at ₦116.28 million at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while also strengthening operational collaboration with key national institutions to enhance security, trade facilitation, and economic stability.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC) Usman Adamu, formally handed over 22.80 kilogrammes of recovered suspected silver bars and a suspect, Abduelhafeez Ibrahim, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kano following the interception.
Adamu disclosed that the seizure occurred during routine baggage screening when officers flagged a passenger’s luggage for secondary examination.
“During non-intrusive scanning, one of the passengers’ luggage items was selected for secondary examination. Upon physical inspection, officers discovered 22.80kg of suspected silver bars concealed in the baggage, with an estimated value of ₦116,280,000,” he said.
The suspect, a holder of a Republic of Sudan passport, was scheduled to travel on an Ethiopian Airlines flight to the United Arab Emirates at the time of interception. According to him, the items were sourced from the Niger Republic, but he failed to provide export documentation or evidence of the required declaration.
“The unlawful movement of regulated items across our borders is a violation of statutory provisions and attracts appropriate sanctions,” Adamu stated, adding that the handover to the EFCC was necessitated by the financial implications of the case and the Commission’s statutory mandate.
Upon receiving the suspect, EFCC Kano Zonal Director, Friday Ebelo, commended Customs officers for their professionalism and assured that the Commission would conduct a thorough investigation.
