Nigeria Customs Foils Wildlife Trafficking: Seizes N6m Worth of Rare Parrots, Hawk, 2 Smugglers Nabbed

The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, thwarted an illicit attempt to smuggle live African Grey Parrots, Green Parrots, and a hawk with a staggering estimated value of N6,859,832. The seizure, hailed as a significant triumph in wildlife protection, was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, during his inaugural press conference.

The daring operation unfolded in the early hours of Monday, September 25, 2023, at the gbaji checkpoint, strategically positioned en route to Benin Republic. Comptroller Bomodi explained, “Our vigilant officers acted on credible intelligence and apprehended these animals at approximately 4 am today. We received information that they were being transported in a luxurious bus, originating from Kaduna with a final destination of Lagos, where they would have been illegally sold.”

The intercepted creatures are part of a reprehensible underground trade in endangered species, coveted abroad, and are victims of smuggling networks willing to take substantial risks to profit from their illicit activities.

Comptroller Bomodi underscored the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service in combatting the menace of illicit trade within the nation’s borders. He announced the apprehension of two suspects linked to the seizure, emphasizing, “As a signatory to the convention on illicit trade in endangered species, it is our duty to ensure that such transactions do not persist. Two suspects are now in our custody, and the established procedures for handling such cases, with a special focus on the treatment of these individuals, are in motion.”

In a symbolic gesture of care and responsibility, Comptroller Bomodi handed over the seized creatures to the Controller of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Services, Sanusi Magashi. It is now the duty of this agency to temporarily shelter and nurture these rescued animals, preparing them for a return to their natural habitat within a national park.

Receiving the precious cargo, Comptroller Magaji expressed gratitude for the seamless cooperation between agencies, describing it as a commendable accomplishment in the ongoing battle to preserve our planet’s endangered wildlife.