Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko yesterday, handed over 7 million CFA intercepted by its operatives along the Idiroko Border route to the Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Customs Area Comptroller for the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, handed over the 7 million CFA exhibit to EFCC’s Head of Investigation, Lagos Zone 2, at Idiroko, an Assistant Commander of EFCC, Oguzi Moses, who took custody of the currency at Idiroko in Ipokia local government area of Ogun State for further forensic investigation.
The foreign currency, which consisted of a total sum of 7 million CFA and was stashed in 5,000 denominations, was smuggled from Nigeria en route the Idiroko Border to the neighbouring Republic of Benin. However, it represented an equivalent of N17 million in Nigeria.
Speaking during the handing over, held at the NCS’ headquarters in Idiroko Border of Ipokia local government area, Customs’ Area Controller, Comptroller Shuaibu disclosed that the foreign currency was hidden at an unsuspected corner, awaiting a yet-to-be-identified courier before it was uncovered by the Service’s intelligence operatives at the Baggage road in Idiroko.
“On 20th of March, 2025, our officers on duty at the outward baggage hall while conducting a passenger’s bag en route Nigeria to Benin Republic, a bag suspected to be carrying unlawful content was spotted. On thorough examination, it was discovered to contain new mint foreign currency notes”.
“Our officers conducted a search on the bag in line with the provision of section 6 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and discovered the bag to be containing foreign currency, on examination; it was discovered to contain 7, 000, 000 CFA”.
“It might interest you to know that failure to declare cash amounting the seized currency run contrary to the Anti-money laundering (prevention and prohibition) Act 2022 and the foreign exchange (monitoring and miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995”.
Shuaibu said transferring the exhibit to the EFCC’s custody was part of the Service’s efforts at fostering inter-agency collaboration between Nigeria Customs Service, EFCC and our sister agencies, particularly in line with the policy thrust of the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
In his response while taking over the custody of the exhibit, Oguzi assured that his agency will be conducting a thorough forensic investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding this interception and ensure that due process is followed.
“Let this serve as a reminder that no effort will be spared in holding accountable those who seek to undermine the integrity of our financial systems,” he said.
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