Customs intercept N4.2bn donkey skin in Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone, Ikeja, announced that it intercepted a 40-foot container carrying 4,410 pieces of dry donkey skin worth N4.2bn on Monday in Lagos.

Addressing journalists at the Command in Ikeja on Tuesday, the Customs Area Controller in charge of FOU A, Kola Oladeji, disclosed that 21 units of exotic cars were intercepted in the South West Zone within the period under review.

Oladeji said that other contrabands worth N5.4bn were intercepted between December 25, 2024, and February 4, 2025.

Giving details of the seizures, Oladeji said that foreign parboiled rice worth N387m, 2,725 parcels of cannabis sativa worth N218m, and 397 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit worth N1.5m were seized in the last six weeks.

“Others included 118 cartons of frozen poultry products worth N2.8m, 105 bales of second-hand clothing worth N12.6m, 21 units of tokunbo vehicles worth N561m, and donkey skin worth N4.2bn. The total value of the seized goods within the last six weeks was N5.4bn,” Oladeji said.

The CAC explained that the interception of the donkey skin was very peculiar to the Command.

He commended the officer in charge of the export team for exhibiting a high level of diligence and integrity by rejecting every attempt made by faceless individuals to compromise the process.

Oladeji explained that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species prohibits trade in vulnerable species.

“With the slaughtering of over 4000 donkeys and the 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 stated.

He pointed out that the arrested cannabis sativa will be handed over to the relevant government agency for further investigation.

Oladeji added that six suspects were arrested in connection with various prohibited goods and cannabis sativa.

“Some of them have been granted administrative bail while an investigation is ongoing on these cases,” the CAC said.

He also stressed that through regular documentation checks and profiling of suspected irregular import documents, the sum of N60.9m has been collected as revenue through the issuance of demand notices.

Oladeji stated that the command’s intelligence network has been of immense contribution to their success as well as the collaborative contributions of relevant security agencies, which have recorded remarkable success in the anti-smuggling campaign.