How EFCC arrested Nigeria’s most wanted gold smuggler
By Idriss LAWAL
He is commonly known as ‘Dan Zaria’ a popular coinage for people who have hit it big, especially in business, in the northern Nigeria axis.
But his real name is Muktar Muhammad.
Before now Dan Zaria is a frontline figure in Kano State much talked for his affluence and influence, for his money bags and excessive spending among his people and peers.
Until few days ago, precisely, June 11, 2026, when he was arrested and paraded by the EFCC, Nigeria’s Economic and Finance Crime Commission for illicit dealing in metal smuggling, chief among them, gold.
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Amidst the rhetoric that has engulfed the air space and social media, a man who knew Dan Zaria very well when he started as a forex merchant has taken to X handled to unravel the mystery behind the most wanted gold smuggler in Kano.
NewsAfricng.com can report that Muhammad kicked off his career as a lowly forex market dealer before he was introduced to gold smuggling.
Nafiu Mohammed recounted how he has known Muhammad for 15 years and how he deceived his colleagues that he made his money in forex while actually, he was into raw precious metal smuggling.
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“I’ve known this man for 15 years. Started with “forex exchange” in WAPA, Kano.Then he leveled up and started moving dollars to Dubai. Next thing, he relocates to Dubai completely.
“One year later, Dan Zaria returns like a conqueror! Buys 3 houses in Goron Dutse, demolishes all of them without hesitation, and builds a MASSIVE mansion complete with a swimming pool.Then he paves and asphalted the entire road leading to his house. Bros, just the asphalt alone cost millions of naira! At that point, I knew “forex” was just his only side chick.
“Two years ago, during Iftar at the mansion, I casually asked him to show me the way because the speed at which he was buying properties was suspicious. My guy just laughed like Kanayo O Kanayo, slipped some dollar bills into my hand and said: “Alhaji, don’t worry… we go talk.”
“In the business world, “we go talk” is code for “You’re not ready for this level yet.
“Yesterday, right after the South Africa vs Mexico match, I’m innocently scrolling Facebook when I see Dan Zaria posing with an EFCC board. Charged with illegal smuggling of unprocessed gold worth 4.4 BILLION NAIRA.
“Suddenly everything makes sense. The frequent Dubai trips. Dan Zaria wasn’t in forex. He was in GOLD FOREX and this stingy guy could key me into the deal,”
