Three suspects are cooling off in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kano for their alleged involvement in bulk cash and mineral resources smuggling.
They were intercepted on Thursday, June 11, 2026, during a routine surveillance operation by the Land and Property Fraud Section of the Kano Zonal Directorate of the agency, following a directive by the chairman that all directorates intensify efforts to tackle smuggling of mineral resources and bulk cash at international airports.
The main suspect, Mr Ali Baffa, who is an Inspector 1 with Aviation Security (AVSEC), and his accomplices, Mr Aushabu Nasidi and Mr Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, were apprehended at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
According to a statement from the EFCC, preliminary investigations revealed that Ali Baffa allegedly concealed 22.2 kilograms of unprocessed gold bars estimated at over N4.4 billion 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 Mr Nasidi, who allegedly supplied the gold bars to Baffa. Upon arrest, Mr 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 Mr Dan Zaria, who allegedly gave the gold bars to Mr Nasidi.
While being interviewed, Mr Dan Zaria 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 suspects are expected to be charged in court once investigations into the matter are concluded, the anti-money laundering organisation promised.
