The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, has seized a large consignment of donkey skin, destined for export, valued at ₦4.24 billion.
In a statement released today, 6th February, the unit head, Comptroller Kola Oladeji, said the unit intercepted 4,410 pieces of donkey skin, a clear violation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
“It is not gainsaying that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) prohibits trade in vulnerable species. With the slaughter of over four thousand donkeys and an attempt to smuggle them out of the country, CITES has been violated, and we shall investigate thoroughly to unmask the unscrupulous individuals behind this act,” Mr Oladeji said.
Alongside the donkey skin seizure, Mr Oladeji reported the interception of other contraband during the period under review. These included 3,031 bags of foreign parboiled rice (₦387.97 million), 1,378 kg of Cannabis sativa (₦218 million), 21 smuggled vehicles (₦561.33 million), 105 bales of second-hand clothing (₦12.6 million), and 118 cartons of frozen poultry products (₦2.83 million).
