The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a 40-foot container filled with donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway in a major crackdown on illegal wildlife trade.
The seizure was made on Friday, June 5, 2025, at around 9 p.m. during a surveillance operation by officers of the Special Wildlife Office (SWO) and the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU). The container was suspected to be destined for illegal export.
Disclosing the development at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi—represented by the Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada—said the interception demonstrates Customs’ intensified efforts to curb wildlife trafficking in Nigeria.
Maiwada noted that the smuggling of donkey parts is part of a larger, sophisticated network of transnational wildlife crimes. “This seizure is not an isolated incident,” he said during the handover of the confiscated items to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) at the NCS Government Warehouse in Karu, Abuja.
He explained that the interception was based on credible intelligence and executed through a coordinated operation by the SWO and CIU, exposing how criminal syndicates are exploiting Nigeria’s transport corridors for illegal wildlife trade.
“The items have been properly documented and, in compliance with regulations, are being handed over to NESREA today, Thursday, July 10, 2025,” he added.
The NCS, he said, has stepped up enforcement through its Special Wildlife Office, established to tackle the trafficking of endangered species and uphold Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Over the past year, several major wildlife trafficking operations have been disrupted across the country. These include:
The rescue of six African Grey Parrots and arrest of a suspect in Kano (December 10, 2024).
The interception of two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, a baby baboon, and a Grey Parrot at Lagos Airport (May 2025).
A seizure in Cross River State involving 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, and 128 hornbill heads.
The handover of rescued tortoises to the National Park Service in Oyo State (January 13, 2025).
Multiple seizures of taxidermy specimens, including lion statues, zebra hides, gorilla parts, and pangolin scales.
The interception of 119.4kg of pangolin scales in Calabar.
The rescue of 120 African Grey Parrots and arrest of a suspect in Fufore, Adamawa State.
Maiwada emphasized the link between wildlife trafficking and broader organized crimes such as money laundering, arms smuggling, and illicit currency movements. “This is not just an environmental issue—it’s a national security concern,” he stressed.
The Service is also investing in advanced surveillance tools, digital forensics, and cross-border enforcement strategies to combat wildlife crime. Several prosecutions are currently ongoing, backed by digital evidence collected through suspect phone analysis.
He urged the public—especially residents of border communities and transportation hubs—to report suspicious activities involving wildlife products.
“The Nigeria Customs Service remains fully committed to enforcing the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and relevant international environmental treaties,” he assured, commending the dedication of officers and partner agencies in the fight against illegal wildlife trade.