EFCC Arrests AVSEC Inspector And Two Others For Alleged Gold And Cash Smuggling At Kano Airport

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

Operatives of the Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested an Aviation Security (AVSEC) Inspector and two other suspects at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for allegedly smuggling unprocessed gold bars and bulk foreign currency out of Nigeria. The suspects were intercepted on Friday, June 11, 2026, during a routine surveillance operation by the Land and Property Fraud Section of the directorate.

The suspects were identified as Ali Baffa, an Inspector 1 with AVSEC; Aushabu Nasidi; and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria. The arrests followed a directive by the Executive Chairman of the EFCC that all directorates intensify efforts to tackle the smuggling of mineral resources and bulk cash at international airports.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ali Baffa allegedly concealed 22.2 kilograms of unprocessed gold bars 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. The estimated street value of the gold is over N4.4 billion. 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 Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, who allegedly gave the gold bars to Nasidi. During interrogation, 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. All three suspects are currently in EFCC custody and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The EFCC has intensified its anti‑smuggling operations at Nigeria’s international airports in recent months, targeting the illegal export of gold, foreign currency, and other restricted commodities.

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