The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, Bauchi, has intercepted 718 pieces of donkey skins worth over N24 million allegedly being smuggled out of the country
The Zonal Comptroller, Abdullahi Kaila, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media briefing on the unit’s anti-smuggling activities at the command’s headquarters in Bauchi.
Kaila stated, “The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items stands at Twenty-Four Million, Three Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventeen Naira (N24,313,217.00)”.
He noted that the arrest aligned with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale, to enforce a zero-tolerance stance against the illegal trade of endangered species.
“This operation is part of our broader mandate to combat the illegal wildlife trade and enforce the Federal Government’s ban on the exportation of donkey skins,” he stated.
He explained that the trade and exportation of donkey skins remain prohibited under Nigerian law and international conventions, including the CITES agreement, which restricts the commercial trade of endangered wildlife.
According to him, two suspects, including the driver and owner of the goods, were arrested and would be prosecuted in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, as well as other environmental protection laws.
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Good job by custom