The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, has intercepted 718 pieces of donkey skins valued at over ₦24 million in Bauchi State, in what officials described as a crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking.
The Zonal Comptroller, Abdullahi Kaila, disclosed this on Tuesday during a media briefing at the unit’s headquarters in Bauchi, where he outlined recent anti-smuggling operations carried out by the command.
Mr Kaila said the cumulative duty paid value (DPV) of the seized donkey skins stood at ₦24,313,217, noting that the interception was in line with the directive of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale, to maintain zero tolerance for the illegal trade in endangered species.
According to him, the trade and exportation of donkey skins remain prohibited under Nigerian law, as well as international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Nigeria is a signatory.
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“This operation underscores our resolve to enforce the Federal Government’s ban on the exportation of donkey skins and to combat the illegal wildlife trade,” Mr Kaila said.
He added that two suspects—the driver conveying the items and the owner of the goods—were arrested in connection with the seizure and would be prosecuted under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other relevant environmental protection laws.
Describing the development as a boost to efforts to safeguard biodiversity and protect national economic interests, the comptroller warned that smuggling of wildlife products constitutes economic sabotage.
Mr Kaila said the success of the operation was aided by improved intelligence sharing and collaboration with other security agencies, adding that the service would continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement across the zone.
He urged members of the public to support Customs operations by providing credible information that could help dismantle smuggling networks operating in the region.
, Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, has intercepted 718 pieces of donkey skins valued at over ₦24 million in){kind=link}