EFCC arrests AVSEC inspector, two others over alleged cash, gold smuggling
The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested an Aviation Security (AVSEC) Inspector I, Ali Baffa, along with two alleged accomplices, Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, over their suspected involvement in the smuggling of bulk cash and mineral resources through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
“The suspects were intercepted on Friday, 11 June 2026, during a routine surveillance operation conducted by the Land and Property Fraud Section of the Kano Zonal Directorate.
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Nkereuwem Effiong
The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested an Aviation Security (AVSEC) Inspector I, Ali Baffa, along with two alleged accomplices, Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, over their suspected involvement in the smuggling of bulk cash and mineral resources through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
“The suspects were intercepted on Friday, 11 June 2026, during a routine surveillance operation conducted by the Land and Property Fraud Section of the Kano Zonal Directorate.
“The operation followed a directive from the EFCC Chairman instructing all directorates to intensify efforts to curb the smuggling of mineral resources and bulk cash through international airports,” he said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Baffa allegedly concealed 22.2 kilogrammes of unprocessed gold bars, estimated to be worth more than ₦4.4 billion, in his trousers in an attempt to evade security screening and hand the minerals over to passengers travelling overseas for illegal export from Nigeria.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Nasidi, who allegedly supplied the gold bars to Baffa. Upon his arrest, EFCC operatives reportedly recovered various foreign currencies from him, including 3,000 Saudi riyals, 40,000 Turkish lira, 199.75 Kuwaiti dinars, 20,700 Philippine pesos, 80 Australian dollars, 310 Chinese renminbi, 4,000 Algerian dinars, 40 Hong Kong dollars, 26,000 Hungarian forints and 1,000 Sudanese dinars.
The investigation also resulted in the arrest of Dan Zaria, who allegedly supplied the gold bars to Nasidi. During interrogation, he reportedly informed investigators that he had smuggled an estimated 40.2 kilogrammes of gold between 1 and 11 June 2026 using the same method. According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, all three suspects are currently in the commission’s custody and will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
