By Indus Gazette Staff

Karachi – May 2, 2025: In a major anti-smuggling operation, the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Karachi, successfully intercepted a shipment of 14,000 kilograms of prohibited donkey hides destined for export, with an estimated market value of Rs. 80 million.

 

According to official sources, the seizure took place at the South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT) at Karachi Port, where a suspicious container (No. SEGU-3154225), declared as a consignment of leather goods, was flagged by the Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of Customs Enforcement.

 

The shipment, prepared by M/s Wow Trading and en route to China, had already been cleared through the “Green Channel” under the Customs Export Collectorate and had been approved for loading onto a vessel. However, acting on intelligence and risk profiling, enforcement officials halted the container for a detailed inspection.

 

Upon examination, the officials discovered that the consignment, under the guise of leather products, actually contained 285 packages filled with donkey hides—an item strictly banned for export under Pakistan’s current export policy.

 

The seized hides were transferred to a secure Customs ASO warehouse, and a formal case has been registered against the exporter under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act. Further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the smuggling network.

 

A spokesperson for Karachi Customs emphasized that the operation was part of its ongoing efforts under the Risk Management Profiling System to combat illegal trade and prevent the unlawful export of prohibited or sensitive goods from the country.

 

Experts have warned that the illegal trade in donkey hides, which are reportedly in demand for traditional medicinal products in certain foreign markets, notably China, poses serious concerns regarding animal cruelty and also tarnishes Pakistan’s international reputation.

 

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to pursuing such cases vigorously and strengthening checks to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.