The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, disclosed on Tuesday that it intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with 13.6 tonnes of dried donkey skin valued at N3.6 billion in Owerri, Imo State.
The Service Area Controller for FOU Zone C, Comptroller Abdullahi Balogun, in a statement indicated that the seizure was made possible by the vigilance and professionalism of the revenue agency’s operatives.
According to him, the intercepted cargo, classified as dried salted donkey skin, is a prohibited export item under Nigerian law due to its negative impact on biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and the illicit trade in endangered species.
Balogun clarified: ”Upon examination, it was discovered that the items were packed in sacks containing 10 and 9 pieces respectively, totaling 3,022 pieces. Each piece has an average weight of 4.5 kilograms, giving an estimated total weight of 13,599 kilograms
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“A 40-ft containerized donkey skin billed for illegal export and worth N3.6 billion has been intercepted by vigilant officers of the Federal Operations Unit Zone C in Owerri.
“Further investigations revealed the global price of dry salted donkey skin stands at $750 and a unit price of $166.6 per kilogram”, he added.
The Area Controller explained that the global market price of dried salted donkey skin currently stood at $750 per piece, translating to a unit price of $166.6 per kilogramme.
The Customs boss reiterated that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, remained committed to enforcing the Federal Government’s trade regulations and curbing the smuggling of prohibited and endangered goods.
While warning individuals and criminal syndicates engaged in illegal wildlife trade to desist or face the full weight of the law, Balogun assured that the Service would continue to strengthen its surveillance, intelligence gathering, and enforcement efforts across all operational zones in order to curb illegal acts of smugglers and criminals.
