Customs intercepts truckload of Donkey genitals in Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a 40-foot container packed with donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway, an operation described as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade in the country.

The seizure, suspected to be headed for unlawful export, was made on Friday, June 5, 2025, around 9 pm, following a coordinated surveillance operation by officers of the Special Wildlife Office and Customs Intelligence Unit.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Service’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, said the interception highlights the activities of transnational criminal networks exploiting endangered species for illicit profit.

“This seizure is not an isolated incident,” Maiwada said at the NCS Government Warehouse in Karu, where the items were handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for further action.

He explained that the interception was carried out under credible intelligence, further exposing the persistence of wildlife trafficking networks using Nigeria’s transport corridors.

According to him, the Service has also made other major wildlife-related arrests and seizures in the last year, including the recovery of African Grey Parrots, live pangolins, monkeys, baboons, tortoises, and various taxidermy specimens like lion and zebra hides.

He revealed that a notable seizure in Cross River State involved 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, and 128 hornbill heads. In Adamawa State, 120 African Grey Parrots were rescued with one suspect apprehended, while in Calabar, 119.4kg of pangolin scales were intercepted in a container.

Maiwada stressed that the illegal wildlife trade is closely connected with other serious crimes such as money laundering, arms smuggling, and illicit currency movement, warning that such syndicates would be met with the full weight of the law.

He further assured that the Service is investing in digital surveillance, cross-border enforcement, and species identification to strengthen its fight against the menace.

He urged the public, especially those in border communities, to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.

Commending the operatives involved in the seizure, Maiwada pledged that the Service would continue to uphold Nigeria’s environmental protection laws and international commitments.