The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, has impounded three trucks containing donkey bones and dried donkey meat in Zamfara and Niger states.
The seizure has a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of about N3 billion.
Comptroller of the unit, Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu, who disclosed this at the headquarters in Kaduna, yesterday, said four suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure.
Shuaibu reported that operatives of the unit intercepted a truck with registration number GGE 526 XL along Sokoto/Gusau Road in Zamfara State on April 25, 2024, following credible intelligence that it was conveying illicit goods.
He said the truck was brought to Kaduna for further examination and that upon inspection, it was discovered to be carrying 750 sacks of donkey bones estimated at N2.3 billion. One suspect was arrested.
The comptroller added that on May 5, 2024, at approximately 0310hrs, operatives intercepted two trucks along the Kontagora-Tegina road in Niger State. After, a 100 per cent physical examination, they were found to contain 860 sacks of dried donkey meat. Three suspects were arrested.
Shuaibu said the illegal trade contravenes Section 55 (1) paragraph c and i (1) of the NCS Act 2023, which provides for controlled goods imported or exported, in line with relevant international laws, conventions, and agreements, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
He emphasised government’s concern about donkeys being driven towards extinction by unscrupulous activities, noting that Nigeria is a signatory to international conventions aimed at preventing endangerment of the species.
Shuaibu assured that the unit, and indeed the Nigeria Customs Service, will not stand by and allow the illegal trade to continue.
Other seizures by the unit include 58,740 sachets of Tramadol and 48,000 ampoules of Anelgin injection confiscated on May 2, 2024, at about 1130hrs along the Saminaka/Nimbia/Kafanchan axis of Kaduna State.
Shuaibu said the illicit drugs valued at N167,500 were concealed among motor spare parts.
Additionally, the unit intercepted 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, 47 jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil, six sacks of used shoes, 100 sacks of snuff, 30 bags of foreign sugar (25 kg each), 2,255 cartons of herbicide chemical, 10 cartons of foreign couscous, 235 bags of foreign flour (25 kg each), and over 100 cartons of general goods, all with a DPV of N3.2 billion.
Shuaibu said the anti-smuggling initiative of the NCS was advancing through intelligence gathering and improved information technology. He added that the era of exclusively mounting checkpoints was over, as units now employ ICT-assisted intelligence gathering and strategies to fulfill the NCS mandate.
