Customs Seizes 10,603 Donkey Genitals, Intensifies Crackdown On Wildlife Trafficking

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of a massive consignment of 10,603 pieces of male donkey genitals, along with several other prohibited wildlife products, in what authorities describe as a significant blow to transnational wildlife trafficking networks operating across the country.

The illicit items, which were concealed in a 40-foot container, were intercepted on Friday, June 5, 2025, along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway by operatives of the Special Wildlife Office under the Customs Intelligence Unit, Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi stated.

The seizure was formally handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at the NCS Government Warehouse in Karu, Abuja.

Speaking during a press conference to mark the handover, the national public relations officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada who represented the CGC, said the operation was part of the service’s ongoing commitment to fighting wildlife crimes and preserving Nigeria’s ecological heritage.

“This seizure highlights the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering commitment to protecting endangered species, preserving biodiversity, and upholding Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),” Assistant Comptroller Maiwada stated.

He explained that the interception, led by the Special Wildlife Office, was the result of coordinated surveillance and inter-agency collaboration designed to dismantle criminal syndicates involved in the illegal trade of endangered wildlife species.

“This is not an isolated incident,” he added. “Over the past 12 months, our Special Wildlife Office has uncovered and disrupted multiple wildlife trafficking operations across the country, proving the scale and persistence of these illicit networks.”

Between December 2024 and June 2025, Customs operatives carried out a series of landmark interceptions across Nigeria. These include the seizure of 6,087.9kg of pangolin scales, 4.15kg of worked ivory, 157 live African Grey Parrots, 20 green parrots, 4 Senegal parrots, 2 budgies, 6 live monkeys, 4 live pangolins, 3,022 donkey skins, 16 zebra skins, 37 taxidermy specimens, and the recently intercepted 10,603 donkey genitals.

Acting Officer-in-Charge of the Special Wildlife Office, Assistant Comptroller A.S Mani, described the seizures as part of the unit’s strategic push to safeguard Nigeria’s wildlife.

Mani revealed that over 10 suspects have been apprehended in connection with the illegal wildlife trade during the review period, with one conviction already secured while others are facing prosecution.

“These actions have disrupted entire supply chains, reducing the availability of wildlife products on the black market,” he noted.

He said Customs’ recent operations have yielded shocking discoveries, including the rescue of 120 African Grey Parrots and the arrest of a suspect in Fufore, Adamawa State; the interception of two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, one baby baboon, and an African Grey Parrot at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos in May 2025; and the seizure of 119.4kg of pangolin scales in Calabar, Cross River State.

One particularly disturbing case in Ikom, Cross River State, involved the confiscation of 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, and 128 hornbill heads, all from an individual believed to be part of an international trafficking ring.

Maiwada stressed that the success of these operations is due in large part to the service’s collaboration with local and international partners, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, Focused Conservation, the Wildlife Justice Commission, Interpol, NDLEA, EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Office of the National Security Adviser.

“These partnerships have deepened intelligence sharing, leading to high-profile interceptions and successful prosecutions,” he said. “We have also benefited from dedicated storage facilities provided by WCS in strategic locations for the safe keeping of intercepted specimens.”

According to AC Mani, the SWO has also invested heavily in technology and capacity building. “We have established a dedicated intelligence unit that leverages modern technology, including surveillance and forensic analysis,” he said.

In addition, several Customs officers and prosecutors have received specialized training on wildlife crime detection and investigation, courtesy of partners such as Focused Conservation, WCS, and the Environmental Investigation Agency.

Maiwada noted that illegal wildlife trafficking is not just an environmental concern but increasingly intertwined with other organized crimes, such as money laundering, arms smuggling, and illicit financial flows.

“The Nigeria Customs Service views wildlife trafficking as an issue of national importance,” he said. “The Service, under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, is investing in digital surveillance, species identification, and cross-border enforcement frameworks to combat this menace.”

He added that the Service is leveraging digital forensics and phone analysis of suspects to strengthen its investigations and build prosecutable cases, many of which are currently in court.

Beyond enforcement, the Customs Service is also engaging local communities in its fight against wildlife crime. Mani noted that “with the support of our partner NGOs, we have launched awareness campaigns across vulnerable regions, empowering local populations to serve as guardians of their natural habitats.”

He emphasized the need for sustained efforts: “While we celebrate our successes, we acknowledge that much work remains. The threats of wildlife crime continue to evolve, demanding our ongoing vigilance and innovation.”

Looking ahead, the NCS plans to deepen regional and international cooperation, expand its operational footprint, and strengthen relevant legal frameworks.

Both officials urged the public, particularly those in border communities and logistics hubs, to report suspicious movements of wildlife products to authorities.