The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a significant breakthrough in its intensified crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking with the interception of a 40-foot container loaded with 10,603 donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing and handover ceremony held on Thursday, 10th July 2025, at the NCS Government Warehouse, Karu, Abuja, the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, announced that the items were seized through coordinated operations by the Special Wildlife Office (SWO) and the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), acting on credible intelligence.
The seized items have been officially handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in accordance with statutory environmental protocols and Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“This interception highlights the Service’s ongoing effort to dismantle trafficking networks exploiting Nigeria’s borders and corridors for illegal wildlife trade,” Maiwada said.
He noted that the operation was part of a broader campaign to safeguard Nigeria’s biodiversity and disrupt transnational organised crime linked to wildlife smuggling.
The Service listed other notable wildlife seizures in recent months, including:
- African Grey Parrots, pangolins, monkeys, baboons, and parrots intercepted at various locations
- Seizures of taxidermy specimens, zebra skins, and rare bird parts in Lagos, Cross River, and Adamawa States
- Multiple arrests and ongoing prosecutions across the country
Assistant Comptroller Anuhu Samaila Mani, Officer-in-Charge of the Special Wildlife Office, provided a detailed account of enforcement activities between December 2024 and June 2025. Key recoveries included:
- 6,087.9 kg of pangolin scales
- 4.15 kg of worked ivory
- 157 live African Grey Parrots
- 3,022 donkey skins
- 16 zebra skins
- 37 taxidermies
- 10,603 male donkey genitals
Mani noted that over 10 suspects have been arrested during this period, with one already convicted and several facing prosecution. He attributed the success to strong inter-agency collaboration and strategic intelligence gathering, supported by NGOs like the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Focused Conservation, World Parrot Trust, and others.
Maiwada emphasized that wildlife trafficking is not just an ecological concern but also a serious threat to national and regional security, with strong ties to money laundering, arms smuggling, and other illicit activities.
“The Service under CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, is investing in digital surveillance, forensic analysis, and community engagement to deepen enforcement,” he added.
The event ended with commendations to the Customs Police Unit, CIU operatives, and strategic partners for their role in combating wildlife crime, with a renewed call to the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
