The Federal Operations Unit, Zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of illegal donkey products and other contraband valued at N3.17billion between April 17 and May 17 2024.
Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Ahmadu Shuaibu who disclosed this on Tuesday in Kaduna at a media briefing said on two separate occasions operatives of the unit impounded consignments of donkey bones and donkey meat, respectively, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of about N3 billion.
Comptroller Shuaibu who expressed sadness over the continued disregard for the lives and preservation of endangered species like the donkey which is near extinction said four suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure.
He said, “The above illegal trading clearly contravenes Section 55 (1) paragraph c and i (1) of the NCS Act 2023 which says that “Import and Exports shall where applicable be subject to prohibitions and restrictions relating to:
(c) The protection of the health and life of humans, animals, or plants;
(i) Controlled goods imported or exported in line with relevant International laws, conventions and agreements (1) relevant International laws, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“Government is concerned that donkeys are part of rare animals that are being driven towards extinction by activities of unscrupulous elements, and Nigeria is signatory to the international convention for the continued prevention of endangering these species.
“Therefore, the Unit and indeed the Nigeria Customs Service will not and cannot fold its hand and allow this illegal trade to continue to take place.”
Comptroller Shuaibu revealed that the unit also seized 58,740 sachets of tramadol and 48,000 ampules of Anelgin injection along Saminaka/Nimbiya/Kafanchan axis of Kaduna state.
The illicit drugs, valued at N167. 5million he said, were neatly concealed with motor spare parts but was uncovered by the eagle eye of its operatives.
He gave a break down of other items intercepted by the Unit within the review period to include 12 vehicles (means of conveyance), 174 bags of foreign rice (50 kg each), 234 jerry cans of PMS (25 litres each), 109 bales of second hand clothing,
367 cartons of spaghetti, 50 cartons of Macaroni and 47 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil.
Others are six sacks of used shoes,
100 sacks of snuff, 30 bags of foreign sugar (25kg each), 2,255 cartons of herbicide chemical, 235 bags of foreign flour (25kg each) and over 100 cartons of general goods.
“The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items is N3.17billion only.”
“Let me at this point say that the officers and men of the Unit are focused, committed and prepared to continue to carry out their assignments with utmost sense of courtesy and unwavering professionalism.
“The success we are showcasing today is therefore a demonstration of our collective determination to continue to carry out our duty with undivided attention, and without fear or favour.
“Those who wish to try our resolve should have a rethink as we shall be unsparing in implementing the laws and policy directives of the Federal Government as directed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team,” he said.
Comptroller Shuaibu also announced that the suspect arrested for impersonation in Sokoto has faced the full weight of the law.
He commended the leadership of the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command of the Service and the Customs Police Unit for their continued efforts in assisting the Unit ‘s operations.
