The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended an aviation security officer at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano for allegedly attempting to smuggle gold valued at over N4.4 billion out of Nigeria. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by Dele Oyewale, the EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity.
Details of the Arrest
The suspect, identified as Ali Baffa, an Inspector I with Aviation Security (AVSEC), is accused of concealing 22.2 kilogrammes of unprocessed gold bars in his trousers to evade security checks and facilitate illegal export. The arrest occurred on Thursday, 11 June, during a surveillance operation by the Land and Property Fraud Section of the EFCC's Kano Zonal Directorate. Two other suspects, Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, were also intercepted.
Investigation Findings
Preliminary investigations revealed that Baffa allegedly hid the gold bars, estimated at over N4.4 billion, intending to bypass security and hand them to overseas-bound passengers for illegal export. Further probes led to the arrest of Nasidi, who is accused of supplying the gold to Baffa. Nasidi was found with various foreign currencies, including 3,000 Saudi riyals, 40,000 Turkish lira, 199.75 Kuwaiti dinar, 20,700 Philippine peso, 80 Australian dollars, 310 Chinese renminbi, 4,000 Algerian dinar, 40 Hong Kong dollars, 26,000 Hungarian forint, and 1,000 Sudanese dinar.
The investigation later resulted in the arrest of Dan Zaria, who allegedly supplied the gold to Nasidi. During interrogation, Dan Zaria reportedly confessed to smuggling approximately 40.2 kilogrammes of gold between 1 and 11 June using the same method. The EFCC stated that all three suspects remain in custody and will be charged in court after investigations are concluded.
Context of Increased Scrutiny
The EFCC has recently intensified efforts to curb illegal movement of mineral resources and undeclared cash through Nigeria's international airports. This arrest follows increased scrutiny at Kano Airport. In May, the EFCC began investigating two passengers arrested at the same airport for allegedly failing to declare $461,600 brought from Dubai. In March, the Nigeria Customs Service handed over a suspect and 22.8 kilogrammes of suspected silver bars valued at over N116 million to the EFCC after interception at Kano Airport. The Kano Directorate has also investigated several cases of undeclared foreign currencies intercepted at the airport in 2025, involving large sums of dollars, Saudi riyals, and other currencies concealed in luggage.
