The Murtala Muhammed Airport command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ikeja on Thursday said its officers intercepted male donkey genitals and dried shark fins worth N1.23 billion at the Lagos Airport.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday in Lagos, the Customs Area Controllers, MMA, Compt. Muhammed Yusuf said the seized items were on the verge of being exported out of the country to China and Hong Kong respectively.
The command said it also generated N47.24 billion between January and July 2023 representing 83.24% compared to N40.35 billion generated in half year 2022.
According to Muhammed Yusuf, the male donkey genitals were harvested from Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, by a Chinese, saying that donkeys as endangered species must be protected from going into extinction.
He said, “The Command made remarkable successes through coordinated anti-smuggling activities in synergy with other critical stakeholders which led to the seizure of six packages of suspected Dried Shark Fins with FOB Value of N221.8million and also 25 packages of suspected Dried Donkey Genitals with FOB value of N1.01billion making a total of N1.23billion.”
“We have over 1000 fishes whose fins have been harvested here and if this is allowed to go, high numbers of donkeys will be endangered and we will have asked them to desist from this act. Animals in the sea have roles they play and endangering them will mean a lot to the ecosystem for us in NCS we make sure we do our jobs and things like this under export prohibition are not allowed to go.
“The culprits have been apprehended and investigation is ongoing to know where this thing came from I know that in Nigerian waters, we don’t have enough sharks that are up to this. This is supposed to be exported out of the country and nabbed at the point of documentation. 1700 pieces of sharks are endangered and they are going to Hong Kong, this is the first time we are seizing this in the command.
“Donkeys are under endangered species and they came from Abakaliki and we begin to wonder why they came from there. We have a lot of donkeys in Abakaliki and now that they are endangered species, these things continuously go out. You can imagine the roles they play in the ecosystem. As it is, the Chinese man has been arrested and investigation is ongoing.”
Speaking on the half-year report, Yusuf said, “From the period of January – July 2023, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command generated a total of N47.24 billion which represents 83.24% of the target met. When compared to the same period in 2022 of N40.35 billion, there is a progressive difference of N6.9 billion representing a 17.14% increase.”
“The suspects in connection with this illegally intended Export have been arrested and the investigation is ongoing. These items were seized mainly because of various forms of infractions on Export guidelines and failure to comply with CITES Law on endangered species as enshrined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act.”
“Let me use this opportunity to appreciate my Officers and Men for their dedication to the Service. I urge them to always adhere strictly to the rules of engagements while discharging their statutory duties.”