By Anthony Nwachukwu
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it intercepted a container loaded with over 10,000 donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Highway.
Announcing this in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, told newsmen that the seizure aligns with the agency’s anti-wildlife trafficking operations, which is being executed through its Special Wildlife Office (SWO), domiciled within the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).
The CGC, who was represented by the through the National Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Maiwada, said the operation was mandated to gather intelligence, profile, initiate investigations, and coordinate enforcement activities targeting transnational criminal networks dealing in endangered species.
Adeniyi noted that with support from local and international partners, the SWO recorded commendable progress, stating that officers acted on credible intelligence to intercept the container on June 5, 2025, at about 9p.m.
He added that the seized wildlife items will be officially handed to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) after proper documentation and compliance procedures.
Adeniyi disclosed that the SWO uncovered and disrupted numerous illicit wildlife trafficking operations last year. He listed the six African Grey Parrots seized in Kano in December 2024, two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, one baby baboon, and an African Grey Parrot seized at the Lagos Airport in May 2025.
According to him, “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.
On January 13, 2025, “tortoises were rescued and handed over to the National Park Service in Oyo State,” he stated, while “taxidermy specimens such as life-sized lions, zebra hides, gorilla parts and pangolin scales” had also been seized by the NCS.
Among others, Adeniyi said a container with 119.4kg of pangolin scales was also intercepted in Calabar, while in Fufore, Adamawa State, officers rescued 120 African Grey Parrots and arrested a suspect.
“These figures underscore the scale and sophistication of illegal wildlife trade,” he stated. “It is not just an ecological issue but one tied to organised crimes, including money laundering, arms smuggling and illicit currency flows.”
Meanwhile, Adeniyi said the agency was investing in digital surveillance, cross-border enforcement and species identification to combat the menace. Her added: “Our Wildlife Office’s investigations, including digital forensics and phone analysis of suspects, have strengthened our evidence base, with several prosecutions currently underway.”
