Customs Intercepts N4.2bn Export-bound Donkey Skin in Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone A, has intercepted a 40ft container filled with 4,410 pieces of dry donkey skin, bound for export. The consignment, seized in Lagos, is valued at N4.236 billion.
Comptroller Kola Oladeji, speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, explained that the interception was part of ongoing enforcement operations from December 25, 2024, to February 4, 2025. He confirmed that six suspects had been arrested in connection with the illegal shipment.
In addition to the donkey skins, the Customs also seized 21 exotic cars worth about N561.3 million, along with other contraband items, including 3,031 bags of rice (N398 million), 2,725 parcels of cannabis sativa (N218 million), 397 kegs of petrol (N1.6 million), 118 cartons of frozen poultry products (N2.8 million), and 105 bales of second-hand clothing (N12.6 million).
The intercepted cannabis, totaling 1,378kg, will be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation. Oladeji noted that the federal government had, in 2016, banned the importation of foreign parboiled rice through land borders, a policy that smugglers continue to defy.
Frozen poultry products, he pointed out, are also prohibited under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff. Oladeji further emphasized the ongoing commitment of the Customs Service to combat smuggling, particularly in the South-West, and to deter illegal cross-border movements.
The Comptroller mentioned that, despite the challenges posed by illegal trade, the unit had generated N60.9 million through regular checks and profiling. He reaffirmed the unit’s resolve to tackle smuggling in 2025, through heightened awareness, public education, and strict enforcement of the NCS Act 2023.
Oladeji urged those involved in illicit trade to engage in legitimate business practices, as the Customs’ “Swift Sting Operation” will continue to target and punish economic sabotage. He also offered consultations for legitimate traders to improve the trade facilitation system in line with the government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.
