The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, says it has intercepted a massive consignment of donkey skin, bound for export, worth N4.24 billion.
In a statement released today February 6, the unit head, Comptroller Kola Oladeji, said the unit seized donkey skin totalling 4,410 pieces which clearly violates the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
“It is not gain saying 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,” Oladeji said
In addition to the donkey skin seizure, Oladeji said the unit intercepted other contraband items during the review period, including 3,031 bags of foreign parboiled rice valued at N387.97 million and 1,378 kg of Cannabis sativa worth N218 million. Others include 21 smuggled vehicles estimated at N561.33 million, 105 bales of second-hand clothing worth N12.6 million and 118 cartons of frozen poultry products valued at N2.83 million.