The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested an airport security officer and two other suspects over an alleged attempt to smuggle gold worth more than N4.4bn through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that the suspects were apprehended during a surveillance operation carried out by operatives of its Kano Zonal Directorate.
According to the EFCC, the arrested individuals are Ali Baffa, an Aviation Security Inspector, Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria.
The commission stated that the operation formed part of an intensified crackdown on the illegal movement of mineral resources and large sums of cash through the nation’s international airports, following directives from its leadership.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Baffa allegedly concealed 22.2 kilogrammes of unprocessed gold bars inside his clothing in an attempt to evade airport security checks.
The gold, valued at over N4.4bn, was reportedly destined for illegal export through outbound passengers.
The investigation subsequently led to the arrest of Nasidi, who was alleged to have supplied the gold to the airport security officer. EFCC operatives reportedly recovered several foreign currencies from him at the time of his arrest.
The recovered currencies included Saudi Riyals, Turkish Lira, Kuwaiti Dinar, Philippine Peso, Australian Dollars, Chinese Renminbi, Algerian Dinar, Hong Kong Dollars, Hungarian Forint and Sudanese Dinar.
Further inquiries led to the arrest of Dan Zaria, who was accused of providing the gold bars to Nasidi.
The EFCC said Dan Zaria, during interrogation, allegedly admitted to participating in several similar transactions within a short period.
According to the commission, the suspect disclosed that approximately 40.2 kilogrammes of gold had been smuggled between June 1 and June 11, 2026, using the same method.
The agency added that all three suspects remain in its custody while investigations continue.
It noted that they would be prosecuted upon the conclusion of the ongoing probe.