The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested an Aviation Security (AVSEC) officer, Ali Baffa, alongside two other suspects over their alleged involvement in the smuggling of gold and foreign currencies through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.
According to a statement by the anti-graft agency, the suspects Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria were apprehended during a surveillance operation conducted by operatives of the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Directorate.
The arrests, which took place on June 11, 2026, followed a directive from the EFCC Chairman mandating all zonal offices to intensify crackdowns on the illegal movement of mineral resources and bulk cash through Nigeria’s international airports.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Baffa, an Inspector I with AVSEC, allegedly concealed 22.2 kilograms of unprocessed gold bars inside his trousers in a bid to evade airport security checks and facilitate illegal export. The EFCC estimates the value of the seized gold at over N4.4 billion.
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Further investigations led operatives to Nasidi, who was reportedly found in possession of multiple foreign currencies, including Saudi Riyals, Turkish Lira, Kuwaiti Dinar, Philippine Pesos, Australian Dollars, Chinese Renminbi, Algerian Dinar, Hong Kong Dollars, Hungarian Forint, and Sudanese Dinar.
The EFCC also traced the origin of the gold to Dan Zaria, who allegedly supplied the mineral to Nasidi before it was handed over to the AVSEC officer for smuggling.
During interrogation, Dan Zaria reportedly confessed to using the same concealment method to smuggle large quantities of gold out of the country.
He disclosed that between June 1 and June 11, 2026, he had successfully trafficked approximately 40.2 kilograms of gold through the same network.
The Commission confirmed that all three suspects remain in custody as investigations continue. They are expected to be arraigned in court upon conclusion of the probe.
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