RismadarVoice Reporters, April 14, 2026
The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commended its growing partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), noting that the synergy between both agencies has delivered significant operational successes and enhanced institutional relations.
This was disclosed in Kano by the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Friday S. Ebelo, while receiving a delegation of students from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, who were on an educational visit to the Directorate.
Ebelo highlighted the tangible outcomes of the collaboration, including the interception of smuggled goods, recovery of illicit funds, and the arrest of high-profile economic offenders. He stressed the importance of mutual understanding between agencies in tackling complex financial crimes.
“Our collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service has led to the interception of smuggled goods, recovery of illicit funds, and arrest of high-profile economic offenders. The fight against illegal trade and money laundering requires that we understand each other’s operational frameworks. This visit is a step toward building a more formidable, coordinated response,” he said.
The visit, themed “Customs Protect Society Through Effective Interagency Collaboration and Border Control,” underscored the importance of seamless cooperation among security and enforcement bodies in protecting Nigeria’s borders and economic stability.
The visiting delegation, comprising mid-level and senior officers of the NCS, was led by the Commandant of the College, D. Gaura.
Ebelo further emphasized that no single agency can effectively combat cross-border crimes such as smuggling, money laundering, and other forms of economic sabotage without robust intelligence sharing and coordinated operations. He noted that both the EFCC and NCS share a common responsibility in safeguarding national revenue and maintaining economic integrity.
In his remarks, Gaura praised the EFCC for its transparency and operational efficiency. He explained that the study tour was designed to expose participants to the practical realities of interagency collaboration, noting that modern customs administration extends beyond cargo checks to include intelligence-led financial investigations.
He added that customs officers must understand how the EFCC traces proceeds of smuggling and transnational crimes, stressing that disrupting financial networks is key to dismantling organized cross-border criminal activities.
“Customs’ protection of society is only fully realized when the Service works hand-in-hand with the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies,” Gaura stated.
The visit featured a lecture delivered by Victor Ikang, Head of the Visa Fraud Malpractice Section, who spoke on the theme of the tour. It also included interactive sessions, where participants engaged in discussions on intelligence-sharing protocols, joint investigation strategies, and legal frameworks guiding interagency collaboration.
Students also participated in a question-and-answer session with the EFCC leadership, focusing on issues related to currency smuggling, money laundering, and the management of confiscated assets linked to financial crimes.
