The Nigeria Customs Service’s Murtala Muhammed Airport Command announced the interception of contraband goods, including male donkey genitals and dried shark fins, with a combined estimated value of N1.23 billion ($2.98 million). The seized items were en route to China and Hong Kong.
Muhammed Yusuf, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, revealed the interception during a statement to journalists. He explained that the male donkey genitals had been harvested from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State by a Chinese individual. Donkeys are considered endangered species, and the origin of these body parts from Abakaliki raised concerns about their role in the ecosystem. The Chinese individual has been arrested, and an ongoing investigation is being conducted.
Regarding the dried shark fins, Yusuf stated that investigations were in progress to determine the source of the contraband. He noted that Nigerian waters do not host enough sharks to account for the large quantity seized. The shark fins, numbering 1,700 pieces, were intended for export to Hong Kong.
Yusuf also provided information about the command’s revenue generation. From January to July 2023, the command reportedly generated N47.24 billion ($114 million), indicating that 83.24% of the command’s target had been achieved.
This seizure highlights the ongoing efforts of Nigerian authorities to curb illegal wildlife trade and preserve endangered species, while also underlining the importance of customs and border control in preventing the trafficking of such items.