Customs intercepts container of donkey genitals on Kaduna–Abuja road in major wildlife bust.
Officials link seizure to global trafficking network, hand over evidence to environmental agency.
A major illegal wildlife trafficking attempt was thwarted by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), who intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway.
The operation, carried out on the night of Friday, June 5, 2025, was the result of a coordinated surveillance effort by the NCS Special Wildlife Office and the Customs Intelligence Unit. According to the service, the intercepted items were suspected to be en route to an illegal export destination.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, revealed the details during a press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday. Represented by the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, he described the seizure as part of a broader clampdown on illegal wildlife trade across the country.
“The interception was carried out under coordinated surveillance by officers of the SWO and CIU, further confirming the persistence of illegal wildlife trafficking networks in exploiting Nigeria’s corridors,” Maiwada said during the media session at the NCS Government Warehouse in Karu, Abuja.
He emphasized that the operation underscores the transnational scope of criminal syndicates exploiting endangered species for profit. “This seizure is not an isolated incident,” he noted.
Following standard procedures and documentation, the intercepted consignment was formally handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for further investigation and prosecution.
Maiwada highlighted that the Nigeria Customs Service, through its Special Wildlife Office, has significantly stepped up operations to tackle wildlife crimes. The office was established to reinforce Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“In the past year, the unit has uncovered and disrupted several illicit wildlife trade networks,” he added.
He listed recent successes, including:
- The arrest of a suspect and rescue of six African Grey Parrots in Kano on December 10, 2024.
- The interception of two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, a baby baboon, and an African Grey Parrot at the Lagos Airport in May 2025.
- The seizure of 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, and 128 hornbill heads in Ikom, Cross River State, with one suspect apprehended.
Additionally, on January 13, 2025, Customs officials handed over rescued tortoises to the National Park Service in Oyo State. The service also intercepted taxidermy specimens such as zebra hides, lion replicas, gorilla parts, and pangolin scales in various shipping routes and ports.
“One particular operation uncovered 119.4kg of pangolin scales concealed in sacks within a container near Calabar, while another led to the rescue of 120 African Grey Parrots and the arrest of a suspect in the Fufore area of Adamawa State,” Maiwada said.
He stressed that wildlife trafficking in Nigeria has expanded into a more organized and dangerous criminal enterprise, often tied to other illicit activities.
“These figures underscore the scale, sophistication, and profitability of the illegal wildlife trade,” he stated. “Many of these operations are connected to larger criminal syndicates involved in money laundering, arms smuggling, and illicit currency transfers.”
Maiwada concluded that the NCS views this issue as a serious national concern not only due to its environmental implications but also because of its growing ties to organized crime.
