In a jaw-dropping bust, the Ogun 1 Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a staggering CFA 7 million (approximately N17 million) along the notorious Idiroko Border in Ogun State. The illicit funds were hidden in a bag, and Customs operatives discovered the high-value currency stashed away in 5,000 CFA denomination notes, ready to be smuggled out of Nigeria into neighboring Benin.
The dramatic discovery unfolded on March 20, 2025, when Customs officers spotted a suspicious bag abandoned at a corner along the Baggage Road in Idiroko. A routine check soon revealed the contents—freshly minted foreign currency notes hidden away in a way that screamed smuggling operation. The bag was quickly secured, and investigations into this high-stakes operation began.
Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, who oversaw the operation, wasted no time in breaking down the magnitude of the situation: “Our officers noticed the suspicious bag and immediately launched a thorough search. The discovery was shocking—7 million CFA hidden in a way that violated both national and international financial regulations.”
Shuaibu also stressed the severity of the crime, citing that any failure to declare such large sums of money not only contravenes Nigerian law but also violates international anti-money laundering rules. “This is a direct breach of the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022 and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 1995. We will not tolerate such activities.”
After the shocking find, the money was immediately handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation. The transfer of the funds to the EFCC aligns with the Customs Service’s broader strategy of fostering collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, in line with the vision of Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
Moses Oguzi, the Head of Investigations for the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, praised the diligence and vigilance of the Customs officers. “This is a clear reminder that we must protect the integrity of Nigeria’s financial systems at all costs,” Oguzi stated on behalf of Assistant Commander Ahmad Ghali. He assured that a full forensic investigation would be conducted on the seized funds to uncover any potential links to criminal networks or money laundering schemes.
The investigation marks yet another victory for Nigeria’s fight against financial crime, and the authorities are sending a strong message: no one—no matter how carefully they plan—will escape scrutiny when it comes to illicit financial activity.
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