The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has struck a major blow against illegal wildlife trafficking with the seizure of donkey parts worth ₦3.94 billion, officially transferring the exhibits to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Kaduna State.

According to a statement released on Customs’ official X handle on Friday, the contraband was intercepted by officers of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone B, Kaduna, following a series of coordinated anti-smuggling operations.

The seizure included 700 bags of donkey bones valued at ₦1.86 billion and 2,500 pieces of dried donkey skins valued at ₦2.07 billion. The items, intended for illicit export, violated both Nigerian laws and international conventions such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The formal handover took place on Tuesday in Kaduna, where Comptroller Aminu Sule, Controller of FOU Zone B, presented the exhibits to NESREA State Coordinator, Mr. Hene Emmanuel.

Comptroller Sule stressed the socio-economic implications of the trade, noting that donkeys play a vital role in rural communities as a source of livelihood and transportation. He warned that their indiscriminate slaughter threatens sustainable development.

“This seizure is a strong message to traffickers: FOU Zone B will not relent in the fight against environmental crimes,” Sule declared.

NESREA State Coordinator Emmanuel commended Customs for its intelligence-driven operations and confirmed that the agency had taken custody of the seized items.

He assured Nigerians that legal proceedings against suspects connected to the crime would be pursued vigorously, with the goal of curbing demand and protecting the nation’s dwindling donkey population.

The handover ceremony, attended by representatives of security and regulatory agencies, concluded with the formal transfer of the items to NESREA for further action in line with Nigeria’s environmental protection laws.