The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested one Ali Baffa, an Inspector 1 with Aviation Security (AVSEC), and his accomplices at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, for alleged involvement in bulk cash and mineral resources smuggling.
The suspects, Baffa, Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria were intercepted on Thursday, June 11, 2026 during a routine surveillance operation by the Land and Property Fraud Section of the Kano Zonal Directorate.
According to a statement by the anti-graft agency, their arrests follows a directive by the Executive Chairman that all Directorates intensify efforts to tackle smuggling of mineral resources and bulk cash at international airports.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Baffa allegedly concealed 22.2 kilograms of unprocessed gold bars estimated at over N4,400,000,000 (Four Billion, Four Hundred Million Naira) in his trousers, with the intent to bypass security checks and hand over the precious minerals to overseas-bound passengers for illegal export out of Nigeria.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Aushabu Nasidi, who allegedly supplied the gold bars to Baffa. Upon arrest, Nasidi was found in possession of 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 also led to the arrest of one Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria who allegedly gave the gold bars to Nasidi.
While being interviewed, DanZaria revealed to the Commission that he had smuggled an estimated 40.2 kilograms of gold from June 1 to June 11, 2026 using the same modus operandi.
The EFCC added all the suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
