The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘D’ Bauchi, has seized 718 pieces of donkey skins with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over N24 million in Mubi, Adamawa.
The Comptroller of Customs, Abdullahi Ka’ila, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Bauchi.
Ka’ila said personnel of the service intercepted a vehicle conveying the prohibited items on Dec. 26, following credible intelligence and coordinated enforcement efforts.
He said the service detained the driver and the owner of the goods for illegal consignment.
Ka’ila said trade and exportation of donkey skins was prohibited under the Nigerian laws and relevant regulatory agencies, including the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).
He said the seizure also ensured Nigeria’s compliance to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), aimed at protecting endangered animals from extinction through international trade.
The comptroller said investigation was ongoing and the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the NCS Act 2023, and other extant environmental laws.
The action, he said was in line with the zero-tolerance stance of the service against smuggling, as directed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
Ka’ila reiterated commitment to anti smuggling exercise, warning that illegal wildlife trade threatens biodiversity, undermines rural livelihoods and constitutes economic sabotage.
“The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘D’ remains resolute in enforcing trade and conservation laws. Nigeria will not be used as a corridor for wildlife crimes,” he said.
The FOU Zone ‘D’ comprises Adamawa; Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Gombe, Taraba, Plateau , Nasarawa and Yobe.
