The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone B, on Tuesday, announced the interception of contraband worth N3.17billion from smugglers in one month.
Speaking during a press conference in Kaduna, the Customs Area Controller, Compt Ahmadu Shuaibu, disclosed that four smugglers were arrested in connection with the illegal movement of contrabands in and out of the country.
According to him, the intercepted donkey bones, meat, worth over N3billion while the unit also seized sachets of tramadol and 48,000 ampules of Anelgin injection.
The unit also intercepted other contraband such as 12 vehicles (means of conveyance); 174 Bags of Foreign Rice (50 kg each); 234 Jerry cans of PMS (25 litres each);109 bales of second hand clothing; 367 cartons of Spaghetti; 50 cartons of Macaroni and 47 Jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil.
Other items confiscated are: 6 sacks of used shoes; 100 sacks of snuff; 30 bags of foreign sugar (25kg each); 2,255 cartons of herbicide chemical; 10 cartons of foreign couscous; 235 Bags of Foreign flour (25kg each) and 100 cartons of general goods.
“Of great importance is the interception of the illegal products of donkey perpetrated by some unscrupulous elements with no regard for the lives and preservation of endangered species like the donkey which is near extinction. It is, therefore, with a personal sense of sadness to announce that our officers and men on two separate occasions, impounded consignments of donkey bones and donkey meat, respectively, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of about N3billion.
“On the April 25, 2024, operatives of the Unit acting on credible intelligence intercepted one truck with registration Number GGE 526 XL along Sokoto/Gusau Road in Zamfara State conveying illicit goods which were brought to Kaduna for further examination.
“Upon careful examination the truck was discovered to be conveying 750 sacks of donkey bones. The DPV for the donkey bones was estimated at N2.36billion. It would interest you to know that one suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
“Again on May 5, 2024 at about 0310hrs, the operatives of the Unit intercepted 2 Canter Trucks carrying Dried Donkey Meat along Kontagora – Tegina Road in Niger State. After 100% physical examination the trucks were found to contain 860 sacks of Dried Donkey meat. 3 suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure,” he said.