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| Container Laden with Donkey Genitals |
By Stella Okocha Harboursandport.com:Lagos- July 11, 2025: The Special Wildlife Office, SWO, in conjunction with the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS, intercepted a container loaded with over ten thousand donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Highway on thursay, 10th of July, 2025.
This information was disclosed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, through the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, during a press briefing held at the government warehouse in Karu, Abuja.
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| Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, |
According to Maiwada, the seizure aligns with the Service’s anti-wildlife trafficking, and was mandated to gather intelligence, conduct profiling, initiate investigations, and coordinate enforcement activities targeting transnational criminal networks dealing in endangered species.
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| Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, |
CGC Adeniyi highlighted that the interception of the container which happened on the 5th of June, 2025 at approximately 2100 hours, happened with the support from local and international partners, which has made SWO record commendable progress.
The Customs Boss also revealed that, last year, 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.”
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 proper documentation and compliance procedures of 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.
“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 added that “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 stated that 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.
In his words, “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 added that 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.”
Also speaking at 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.
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