EFCC Commends Customs Partnership Over Gains in Anti-Smuggling Operations

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has praised its ongoing collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), describing it as instrumental in strengthening the fight against smuggling, money laundering, and other economic crimes.

Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Kano Directorate, Friday S. Ebelo, made the remark while receiving students from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College during an educational visit.

Ebelo noted that the synergy between both agencies has significantly improved enforcement outcomes, including the interception of smuggled goods, recovery of illicit funds, and arrest of high-profile offenders.

“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,” he said, stressing the importance of understanding each agency’s operational framework to enhance joint efforts.

The visit, themed “Customs Protect Society Through Effective Interagency Collaboration and Border Control,” underscored the need for coordinated strategies and intelligence sharing among security and regulatory bodies.

Ebelo emphasised that no single agency can effectively tackle cross-border financial crimes alone, adding that both EFCC and Customs share a responsibility to safeguard national revenue and economic stability.

He further highlighted that stronger interagency cooperation is key to disrupting the financial networks of organised criminal groups operating across borders.

Leader of the visiting delegation and Commandant of the College, D. Gaura, commended the EFCC for its operational efficiency and transparency.

Gaura explained that the study tour was designed to expose officers to the practical aspects of interagency collaboration, noting that modern customs operations now extend beyond cargo inspection to include intelligence-driven financial investigations.

He added that Customs officers must understand how the EFCC tracks proceeds of smuggling and transnational crimes, stressing that dismantling criminal financial networks requires close cooperation between agencies.

The visit featured a lecture by Victor Ikang, Head of the Visa Fraud and Malpractice Section, alongside interactive sessions on intelligence-sharing, joint investigations, and legal frameworks guiding interagency collaboration.

Participants also engaged in discussions on confiscated items linked to currency smuggling, money laundering, and other financial crimes, further strengthening knowledge exchange between both institutions.