The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has intercepted a 40-foot container loaded with donkey genitals suspected to be part of an illegal wildlife trafficking network. The interception occurred on June 5, 2025, along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway during a coordinated surveillance operation by the Customs Special Wildlife Office and Intelligence Unit.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Customs Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, represented by NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, said the seizure underscores Nigeria’s ongoing battle against wildlife trafficking and illegal exports involving endangered species.
“This interception highlights the continued exploitation of Nigeria’s logistics routes by transnational criminal networks,” Maiwada noted.
The confiscated consignment was officially handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for further investigation and prosecution.
In recent months, Customs has ramped up efforts through its Special Wildlife Office, resulting in several high-profile seizures. These include 213 parrot heads, live pangolins, monkey species, and over 119kg of pangolin scales. Many cases are linked to broader criminal syndicates involved in money laundering and arms smuggling.
The agency has pledged to continue enforcing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and Nigeria’s wildlife protection laws through digital surveillance and inter-agency collaboration.
The NCS urged the public, especially in border communities, to report any suspicious wildlife activity to help curb the growing threat of wildlife trafficking.
