EFCC arrests airport security officer, others over ₦4.4bn gold smuggling attempt

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested an Aviation Security officer, Inspector Ali Baffa, along with two suspected accomplices at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. They are accused of attempting to smuggle unprocessed gold bars valued at more than 4.4 billion Nigerian Naira out of the country.

The EFCC's Kano Zonal Directorate reported that Baffa was apprehended on Thursday during a routine surveillance operation. He had allegedly concealed 22.2 kilograms of gold bars in his trousers, intending to hand them over to passengers traveling overseas. Further investigations by the anti-graft agency led to the arrest of Aushabu Nasidi, who is reportedly linked to supplying the gold.

During Nasidi's arrest, the EFCC recovered assorted foreign currencies, including Saudi Riyals, Turkish Lira, Kuwaiti Dinar, Philippine Peso, Australian Dollars, Chinese Renminbi, Algerian Dinar, Hong Kong Dollars, Hungarian Forint, and Sudanese Dinar. Investigators also apprehended Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, accused of delivering the gold bars to Nasidi. Dan Zaria reportedly confessed to smuggling approximately 40.2 kilograms of gold between June 1 and June 11, 2026, using a similar method.

The three suspects are currently in EFCC custody. They will face charges in court once the investigations are concluded. This operation is part of Nigeria's intensified efforts to curb the illegal export of solid minerals, particularly gold, due to significant revenue losses and the prevalence of smuggling syndicates.