MMA Customs command nabs Chinese man over alleged attempt to export dried donkey genitals worth over N1 billion.

…command rakes in over N40 billion revenue in seven months.

Segun Oladipupo

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday said that an attempt by a Chinese national to export dried donkey genitals worth One Billion, Ten Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty One Naira, Ninety Eight Kobo (N1,010,372,761.98), was thwarted by the officers and men of the command.

The Command’s helmsman, Comptroller Muhammed Sanni Yusuf added that the command generated a whooping N47,249,785,020.44 revenue within the first seven years of the year, 2023.

The figure according to the Command’s boss, represents 83.24 percent of its annual target.

The CAC told newsmen that the revenue when compared to the same period in 2022, has a progressive difference of N6,914,177,365.55k.

On anti-smuggling activities of the command, Comptroller Yusuf told Journalists while conducting them round the seizures that a total sum of One Billion, Two Hundred and Thirty Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty One Naira worth of seizures, was made by the command.

He maintained that the command through coordinated activities in synergy with other critical stakeholders, made a seizure of six packages of suspected dried shark fin with FOB Value of Two Hundred and Twenty One Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty Nine Naira, Two Kobo (N221,885,769.02).

He stated further that the command also intercepted 25 packages of suspected dried donkey genitals worth One Billion, Ten Million, Three Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty One Naira, Ninety Eight Kobo (N1,010,372,761.98).

He noted that the dried donkey genitals were meant to be exported to Hong Kong before they were nabbed by the officers and men of the command through intelligence gathering.

According to the customs boss, one suspect arrested in connection with the export of the dried donkey genitals, a Chinese national, is in the custody of the Service pending conclusion of investigations.

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He quipped that if “We continue to allow these endangered species to go out, one day, they will go into extinction.

“The culprit has been arrested. In fact, he is a Chinese man, he is under our custody to unravel what they are going to do with this. 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.

“In conclusion, I shall continue to appreciate the CGC, BA Adeniyi MFR and his management team for always giving us the leverage to perform. Let me once again appreciate our critical stakeholders and sister agencies who are showing concern and are collaborating with the Service for their continuous support.”