The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a container loaded with over 10,000 donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Highway, marking one of its most significant anti-wildlife trafficking seizures to date.
The announcement was made on Thursday, July 10, 2025, during a press briefing at the government warehouse in Karu, Abuja. Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed that the interception was part of ongoing operations coordinated by the Customs Special Wildlife Office (SWO) under the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).
Maiwada explained that the SWO was specifically tasked with gathering intelligence, profiling suspects, initiating investigations, and coordinating enforcement activities against transnational wildlife trafficking networks.
According to the Comptroller-General, the container was intercepted on June 5, 2025, at approximately 9:00 p.m. based on credible intelligence and coordinated surveillance efforts by the SWO and CIU. He described the seizure as further evidence of the persistent threat posed by illegal wildlife traffickers exploiting Nigeria’s trade corridors.
Adeniyi noted that the confiscated items will be formally handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in accordance with standard procedures and in line with Customs’ commitment to inter-agency cooperation and environmental protection.
Highlighting the broader scope of operations carried out by the SWO, the CGC revealed that several illegal wildlife trade rings have been uncovered over the past year. These include the seizure of:
· Six African Grey Parrots in Kano (December 2024)
· Two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, a baby baboon, and an African Grey Parrot at Lagos Airport (May 2025)
· 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, 128 hornbill heads, and other exotic species in Ikom, Cross River State
He further revealed that in January 2025, tortoises were rescued in Oyo State and handed over to the National Park Service. Additional seizures included taxidermy items such as life-sized lions, zebra hides, gorilla parts, and pangolin scales.
In Calabar, a container carrying 119.4kg of pangolin scales was intercepted, while 120 African Grey Parrots were rescued in Fufore, Adamawa State, alongside the arrest of a suspect.
“These figures underscore the complexity and scale of the illegal wildlife trade,” Adeniyi stated. “It’s not just an environmental issue—it is deeply connected to organised crime, including money laundering, arms smuggling, and illicit financial flows.”
He added that Customs is strengthening its capacity to counter wildlife crime by investing in digital surveillance tools, cross-border intelligence sharing, and species identification technologies. He also confirmed that digital forensics and phone analyses have led to several active prosecutions.
Assistant Comptroller Anuhu Mani, Head of the Customs Wildlife Office, also acknowledged the support of strategic partners such as Focused Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wild Power Trust, Green Fingers, and Padrilas, alongside regional enforcement collaborators.
“This interception reflects the strength of inter-agency cooperation and the critical importance of continued vigilance in protecting our wildlife heritage,” Mani said.
