The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has intercepted 7 million CFA francs being smuggled out of the country and officially handed it over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, disclosed this during a media briefing on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at the Idiroko Headquarters of the Command.
According to Shuaibu, the seizure was made on March 20, 2025, when officers at the outward baggage hall of the border post in Idiroko detected a suspicious bag during routine checks on passengers traveling to Benin Republic. Upon thorough examination, the bag was found to contain freshly minted foreign currency notes amounting to 7 million CFA francs.
“The failure to declare cash of such magnitude contravenes the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995,” Shuaibu stated.
Recognizing the EFCC’s pivotal role in combating financial crimes, the NCS handed over the seized currency to the anti-graft agency in line with the directives of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. The move, Shuaibu explained, strengthens interagency collaboration between Customs, EFCC, and other relevant security agencies.
He further warned against smuggling activities, emphasizing that the Ogun I Command remains committed to enforcing federal fiscal policies and customs regulations.
“The current Customs administration under the leadership of Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has zero tolerance for revenue leakages and violations of economic and fiscal policy measures. We will continue to send a strong signal to deter illegal activities at our borders,” he added.
Shuaibu urged border communities to refrain from engaging in smuggling, assuring that the Command will sustain its vigilance in safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests.