Customs Intercepts Container Laden with Over 10,000 Donkey Genitals in Major Wildlife Trafficking Bust

…as Service reaffirms commitment to environmental protection, inter-agency collaboration

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded another major breakthrough in its intensified war against illegal wildlife trafficking, following the interception of a container loaded with over 10,000 donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Highway.

The startling discovery was made public on Thursday, 10 July 2025, during a press briefing held at the government warehouse in Karu, Abuja.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said the interception was part of ongoing enforcement efforts carried out through the Special Wildlife Office (SWO) under the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).

Maiwada explained that the SWO was established to gather intelligence, conduct profiling, initiate investigations, and coordinate enforcement activities specifically targeting transnational criminal networks dealing in endangered and protected species.

The operation that led to the seizure, he revealed, was executed on 5 June 2025 at about 9:00pm by officers acting on credible intelligence.

The Comptroller-General, in his remarks, described the seizure as a clear indication of the persistence of illegal wildlife trafficking syndicates operating through Nigeria’s transport corridors.

He noted that the interception was made possible through coordinated surveillance mounted by the SWO and CIU.

“The scale of this seizure is shocking and a testament to the unscrupulous networks exploiting Nigeria for the illegal trade in endangered species,” CGC Adeniyi stated. “With the support of our local and international partners, we remain steadfast in dismantling these criminal operations.”

He disclosed that, in line with standard procedures and inter-agency collaboration, the confiscated donkey genitals would be properly documented and handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for further action.

This move, he said, demonstrates the Service’s unwavering commitment to environmental protection and upholding Nigeria’s obligations under international conventions against wildlife crime.

Highlighting previous achievements by the SWO, the CGC revealed a string of notable interceptions over the past year. These include:

The seizure of six African Grey Parrots in Kano in December 2024; the confiscation of two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, one baby baboon, and an African Grey Parrot at Lagos Airport in May 2025; the arrest of a suspect in Ikom, Cross River State, linked to 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, 128 hornbill heads, and other exotic wildlife items.

Others include the rescue of tortoises in Oyo State in January 2025, which were later handed over to the National Park Service; the seizure of taxidermy specimens including life-sized lions, zebra hides, gorilla parts, and pangolin scales; the interception of a container carrying 119.4kg of pangolin scales in Calabar and the rescue of 120 African Grey Parrots and arrest of a suspect in Fufore, Adamawa State.

“These figures underscore the scale and sophistication of illegal wildlife trade. It is not merely an ecological concern, but one intrinsically linked to organised crimes such as money laundering, arms trafficking, and illicit financial flows,” the CGC warned.

To counter these threats, he said the NCS is scaling up its investments in digital surveillance, cross-border enforcement, and the development of tools for accurate species identification.

He added that the Service is leveraging digital forensics and the analysis of suspects’ phone data to strengthen the evidentiary base for prosecution.

Also speaking at the press briefing, the Head of the Customs Wildlife Office, Assistant Comptroller Anuhu Mani, acknowledged the critical role played by strategic conservation partners such as Focused Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wild Power Trust, Green Fingers, and Padrilas.

He also commended the collaborative efforts of enforcement agencies across neighbouring countries in the collective fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.

The Customs Service’s latest seizure has drawn attention to Nigeria’s continued vulnerability as a transit route for illegal wildlife products, even as authorities ramp up efforts to shut down such networks and bring perpetrators to justice.