The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested an aviation security officer and two accomplices over an alleged attempt to smuggle gold bars worth about ₦4.4bn out of the country through the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that the suspect, identified as Inspector Ali Baffa, an Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel, was apprehended during a routine surveillance operation at the airport.
According to a statement issued by the commission, Baffa was intercepted on Thursday while allegedly concealing 22.2 kilograms of unprocessed gold bars in his trousers, with the intention of handing them over to outbound international passengers.
The commission added that the arrest led to a wider investigation, resulting in the apprehension of two other suspects linked to the smuggling network.
One of them, Aushabu Nasidi, was alleged to have supplied the gold bars. He was reportedly found in possession of multiple 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.
The third suspect, Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, was said to have delivered the gold to Nasidi for onward transfer.
During interrogation, Dan Zaria reportedly confessed to orchestrating similar smuggling operations, admitting that he had moved about 40.2 kilograms of gold between June 1 and June 11, 2026, using the same concealment method.
The EFCC said all suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The latest arrest underscores growing concerns over the exploitation of airport security systems for illicit financial flows, particularly involving high-value minerals such as gold.
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