The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commended its growing partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), describing the collaboration as instrumental in tackling economic crimes and boosting operational success.
This was disclosed in Kano by the Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Kano Directorate, Assistant Commander Friday S. Ebelo, while receiving a delegation of students from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College during an educational visit.
Ebelo said the synergy between the two agencies has resulted in notable achievements, including the interception of smuggled goods, recovery of illicit funds, and the arrest of high-profile offenders. He stressed that combating illegal trade and money laundering requires a clear understanding of each agency’s operational framework.
“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,” highlighted the importance of seamless cooperation among security agencies in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders and economic stability.
The NCS delegation, made up of mid-level and senior officers, was led by the Commandant of the College, Assistant Controller General of Customs, D. Gaura.
Ebelo further noted that no single agency can effectively combat cross-border financial crimes, smuggling, and other forms of economic sabotage without strong intelligence sharing and joint operations. He added that both the EFCC and NCS share a common mandate of protecting the nation’s revenue and economic integrity.
In his remarks, Gaura praised the EFCC for its transparency and effectiveness, explaining that the study tour was designed to expose participants to practical aspects of interagency collaboration.
He noted that modern customs operations now extend beyond cargo checks to intelligence-driven financial investigations.
Gaura emphasised the need for Customs officers to understand how the EFCC tracks proceeds of smuggling and transnational crimes, stressing that disrupting the financial networks of criminal groups requires close cooperation among agencies.
Activities during the visit included a lecture delivered by Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, Victor Ikang, on the theme of the tour, as well as interactive sessions on intelligence sharing protocols, joint investigations, and legal frameworks guiding interagency collaboration.
