EFCC nabs aviation security officer, two others for trying to smuggle gold worth N4.4bn

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested an aviation security officer at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. He is accused of trying to smuggle gold worth over N4.4 billion out of Nigeria.

This was stated in a release by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Thursday.

The suspect is identified as Ali Baffa, an Inspector I with Aviation Security (AVSEC). The EFCC claims he hid 22.2 kilogrammes of unprocessed gold bars in his trousers to avoid security checks and help with illegal export.

Baffa and two other suspects, Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, were caught on Thursday, June 11, during a surveillance operation by the Land and Property Fraud Section of the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Directorate.

The operation was ordered by the EFCC chairperson to strengthen efforts against smuggling mineral resources and bulk cash through international airports.

“Preliminary investigations showed that Ali Baffa allegedly concealed 22.2 kilogrammes of unprocessed gold bars, valued at over N4,400,000,000, in his trousers. He intended to bypass security checks and hand the gold over to passengers heading abroad for illegal export from Nigeria,” the statement said.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Mr Nasidi, who is accused of supplying the gold bars to Baffa.

The EFCC reported that one of Baffa’s alleged partners, Nasidi, was found with various foreign currencies. This included 3,000 Saudi riyals, 40,000 Turkish lira, 199.75 Kuwaiti dinar, 20,700 Philippine peso, 80 Australian dollars, 310 Chinese renminbi, 4,000 Algerian dinar, 40 Hong Kong dollars, 26,000 Hungarian forint, and 1,000 Sudanese dinar.

The investigation then led to the arrest of Mr Dan Zaria. He is alleged to have supplied the gold bars to Nasidi.

During questioning, Dan Zaria reportedly told investigators that he had smuggled about 40.2 kilogrammes of gold from June 1 to June 11 using a similar method, according to the EFCC.

“Dan Zaria revealed to the Commission that he had smuggled an estimated 40.2 kilogrammes of gold from June 1 to June 11 using the same method,” the statement noted.

The EFCC has confirmed that all three suspects are still in its custody and will face charges in court once investigations are complete.