Nigeria customs foils illegal wildlife trade, seizes container with over 10,000 donkey genitals

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made a significant seizure of over 10,000 donkey genitals in a container. Seizure was made along the Kaduna-Abuja Highway as part of the Service’s efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Thursday 10 July 2025, revealed that the seizure was made possible through the efforts of the Special Wildlife Office (SWO) and the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), which gathered intelligence and conducted profiling to intercept the container on June 5, 2025.

The seized wildlife items will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for further action.

Making the disclosure on behalf of the control general, at a press briefing, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, said the seizure aligns with the Service’s anti-wildlife trafficking operations executed through its Special Wildlife Office (SWO), domiciled within the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).

At the briefing held at the government warehouse in Karu, Abuja, Maiwada said the operation, was mandated to gather intelligence, conduct profiling, initiate investigations, and coordinate enforcement activities targeting transnational criminal networks dealing in endangered species.

CGC Adeniyi noted that with support from local and international partners, the SWO recorded commendable progress, revealing that officers acted on credible intelligence to intercept the container on 5th June 2025 at approximately 2100 hours.

He said the interception was executed under coordinated surveillance by officers of the SWO and CIU, confirming the persistence of illegal wildlife trafficking networks exploiting Nigeria’s corridors.

He added that following proper documentation and compliance procedures, the seized wildlife items will be officially handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in line with the Service’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration and environmental protection.

The CGC further revealed that, over the last year, the SWO uncovered and disrupted numerous illicit wildlife trafficking operations, adding that, “these include the seizure of six African Grey Parrots in Kano in December 2024, two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, one baby baboon, and an African Grey Parrot at Lagos Airport in May 2025.”

“In a separate operation, officers arrested a suspect in the Ikom area of Cross River State in connection with 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, 128 hornbill heads, and other exotic species.” He said.

He added, “On 13 January 2025, tortoises were rescued and handed over to the National Park Service in Oyo State. “We have also recorded seizures of taxidermy specimens such as life-sized lions, zebra hides, gorilla parts, and pangolin scales.”

CGC Adeniyi also said a container containing 119.4kg of pangolin scales was intercepted in Calabar, and in Fufore, Adamawa State, officers rescued 120 African Grey Parrots and arrested a suspect.

He noted that, “These figures underscore the scale and sophistication of illegal wildlife trade. It is not just an ecological issue, but one tied to organised crimes, including money laundering, arms smuggling, and illicit currency flows.”

He said the Service is investing in digital surveillance, cross-border enforcement, and species identification to combat the menace, adding, “Our Wildlife Office’s investigations, including digital forensics and phone analysis of suspects, have strengthened our evidence base, with several prosecutions currently underway.”

Speaking during the event, the Head of the Customs Wildlife Office, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Anuhu Mani, acknowledged the role of strategic partners, including Focused Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wild Power Trust, Green Fingers, and Padrilas, as well as enforcement agencies in neighbouring countries.