The Federal Operations Unit, Zone B Kaduna of Nigeria Customs Service under the supervision of the notable anti-smuggling Czar, Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu, has intercepted unprecedented seizures of a number of illegal consignments with total duty paid value amounting to Three Billion, One Hundred and Seventy-Five Million, Eighty Four Thousand Naira, Two Hundred and Seventeen Naira and Seventy-Five Kobo (N 3,175,084,217.75) in one month.
The seizures include donkey bones and meat, tramadol, Anelgin injection, foreign rice, Premium Motor Spirit, second hand clothing, spaghetti, macaroni, vegetable oil, used shoes, snuff, foreign sugar and flour, herbicide chemical, couscous and general goods.
Addressing the press on Tuesday in Kaduna, Comptroller Shuaibu stated that on 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.
He added that upon careful examination, the truck was discovered to be conveying 750 sacks of donkey bones.
According to him, the DPV for the donkey bones was estimated at Two Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N2, 363,500,000.00)
He disclosed that one suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Again, the controller hinted that on May 5, 2024 at about 0310hrs, the operatives of the Unit intercepted two Canter Trucks carrying Dried Donkey Meat along Kontagora – Tegina Road in Niger State, adding that after 100% physical examination the trucks were found to contain 860 sacks of Dried Donkey meat.
He revealed that three suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure.
Comptroller Shuaibu remarked that the above illegal trading clearly contravenes Section 55 (1) paragraph c and i (1) of the NCS Act 2023 which says that “Import and Exports shall where applicable be subject to prohibitions and restrictions relating to:
(c) The protection of the health and life of humans, animals, or plants;
(i) Controlled goods imported or exported in line with relevant International laws, conventions and agreements (1) relevant International laws, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
He raised the concern of government that donkeys are part of rare animals that are being driven towards extinction by activities of unscrupulous elements, even as Nigeria is signatory to the international convention for the continued prevention of endangering these species.
He noted that the Unit and indeed the Nigeria Customs Service will not and cannot fold its hand and allow this illegal trade to continue to take place.
“Another concern is the seizure of 58,740 sachets of tramadol and 48,000 ampules of Anelgin injection that was arrested by the operatives of the Unit on the 2nd of May 2024 at about 1130hrs along Saminaka/Nimbiya/Kafanchan axis of Kaduna state. These illicit drugs were neatly concealed with motor spare parts but our eagle eye was able to catch up with them. The DPV of these illicit drugs is One Hundred and Sixty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N167,500.00) only,” the controller explained.
He gave the breakdown of other items intercepted 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,
47 Jerry cans of foreign vegetable oil.
“Other items arrested 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
Over 100 cartons of general goods,” he said.
Comptroller Shuaibu maintained that officers and men of the Unit are focused, committed and prepared to continue to carry out their assignments with utmost sense of courtesy and unwavering professionalism.
“The success we are showcasing today is therefore a demonstration of our collective determination to continue to carry out our duty with undivided attention, and without fear or favour. Those who wish to try our resolve should have a rethink as we shall be unsparing in implementing the laws and policy directives of the Federal Government as directed by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR and his management team.
“Anti-smuggling initiative is fast going beyond old traditional physical measures, the NCS has sharpened its skill in intelligence gathering through improved information technology kits. The era of exclusively mounting checkpoint is long gone, as our Enforcement Unit are up to date in the deployment of ICT assisted intelligence gathering and strategies to achieve our mandate,” he stressed.
He used the briefing to update the general public about the suspect arrested for impersonation in Sokoto, saying that the law has taken its course on him.
The controller specially appreciated the leadership of the Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command of the Service and the Customs Police Unit for their continued efforts in assisting the Unit to take the Service to greater height.