The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a truckload of 10,603 donkey genitals concealed in a 40-foot container along the Kaduna–Abuja expressway.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this yesterday, during the official handover of the seized items to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) at the NCS Government Warehouse in Karu, Abuja.
Maiwada said the interception took place on Friday, June 5, 2025, at about 9:00 p.m., following credible intelligence and coordinated surveillance by operatives of the Special Wildlife Office (SWO) and the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).
Other seized illicit wildlife products includes 213 parrot heads; 157 live African grey parrots; 20 grey parrots; 6087.9kg of Pangolin scales; 4.15kg of worked Ivory; 3022 donkey skins; four live Senegal parrots; six live monkeys; four live Pangolins; 37 Taxidermies; 16 Zebra skins.
The NCS Spokesperson stated that the seizure highlights the persistent threat of illegal wildlife trafficking through Nigeria’s transport corridors. The handover was in line with inter-agency collaboration and statutory responsibilities, following due documentation and compliance with procedures.
He disclosed that in the past 12 months, the Customs Service had uncovered and disrupted several illicit wildlife trafficking operations nationwide. These include the rescue of African Grey Parrots, pangolins, monkeys, tortoises, and the seizure of taxidermy specimens such as lion mounts, zebra hides, and pangolin scales.
Maiwada also noted that the interception in Ikom, Cross River State, led to the confiscation of hundreds of parrot, eagle, and hornbill heads. Other operations include seizures at Lagos Airport and the rescue of 120 African Grey Parrots in Adamawa State.
He warned that the scale and profitability of the illegal wildlife trade pose ecological and national security threats. Wildlife trafficking, he added, is increasingly linked with organised crimes such as money laundering, arms smuggling, and illicit currency flows.
Maiwada assured that the NCS, under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is investing in surveillance, species identification, cross-border enforcement, and training to combat the menace and protect Nigeria’s biodiversity.
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The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this yesterday, during the official handover of the seized items to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) at the NCS Government Warehouse in Karu, Abuja.
Maiwada said the interception took place on Friday, June 5, 2025, at about 9:00 p.m., following credible intelligence and coordinated surveillance by operatives of the Special Wildlife Office (SWO) and the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).
Other seized illicit wildlife products includes 213 parrot heads; 157 live African grey parrots; 20 grey parrots; 6087.9kg of Pangolin scales; 4.15kg of worked Ivory; 3022 donkey skins; four live Senegal parrots; six live monkeys; four live Pangolins; 37 Taxidermies; 16 Zebra skins.
The NCS Spokesperson stated that the seizure highlights the persistent threat of illegal wildlife trafficking through Nigeria’s transport corridors. The handover was in line with inter-agency collaboration and statutory responsibilities, following due documentation and compliance with procedures.
He disclosed that in the past 12 months, the Customs Service had uncovered and disrupted several illicit wildlife trafficking operations nationwide. These include the rescue of African Grey Parrots, pangolins, monkeys, tortoises, and the seizure of taxidermy specimens such as lion mounts, zebra hides, and pangolin scales.
Maiwada also noted that the interception in Ikom, Cross River State, led to the confiscation of hundreds of parrot, eagle, and hornbill heads. Other operations include seizures at Lagos Airport and the rescue of 120 African Grey Parrots in Adamawa State.
He warned that the scale and profitability of the illegal wildlife trade pose ecological and national security threats. Wildlife trafficking, he added, is increasingly linked with organised crimes such as money laundering, arms smuggling, and illicit currency flows.
Maiwada assured that the NCS, under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is investing in surveillance, species identification, cross-border enforcement, and training to combat the menace and protect Nigeria’s biodiversity.
Source & Archive
