The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of a container loaded with more than 10,000 donkey genitals in what is being described as one of the largest wildlife trafficking seizures in recent years.
The startling discovery was made along the Kaduna–Abuja Highway and disclosed during a press briefing held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at the Customs government warehouse in Karu, Abuja. Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said the seizure aligns with the Service’s intensified campaign against wildlife trafficking through its Special Wildlife Office (SWO).
According to Maiwada, the container was intercepted at approximately 9:00 p.m. on June 5, 2025, following credible intelligence and coordinated surveillance efforts by officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) and the SWO. He revealed that the items were destined for illegal export, and the volume of the consignment points to a well-organized transnational criminal operation.
“This operation forms part of our broader strategy to identify, investigate, and disrupt illegal wildlife trafficking networks operating through Nigeria,” he said.
The seizure of donkey parts is particularly significant as it underscores the growing illicit trade in endangered and protected species, often linked to global criminal syndicates. Donkeys are targeted for their hides and genitals, which are in high demand in parts of Asia for use in traditional medicines and other products.
Comptroller-General Adeniyi stated that the seized items would be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in line with inter-agency protocols and environmental laws.
Highlighting the scale of wildlife crimes intercepted in recent months, the Customs boss disclosed that the SWO had made significant breakthroughs, including:
* The rescue of six African Grey Parrots in Kano (December 2024)
* Recovery of two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, a baby baboon, and another African Grey Parrot at Lagos Airport (May 2025)
* The arrest of a suspect in Ikom, Cross River State, in possession of 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, 128 hornbill heads, and other exotic species
* Rescue of tortoises in Oyo State (January 2025)
* Seizure of life-sized taxidermy specimens such as lions, zebra hides, gorilla parts, and pangolin scales
* Interception of 119.4kg of pangolin scales in Calabar and rescue of 120 African Grey Parrots in Fufore, Adamawa State
“These seizures reveal the sheer scale and sophistication of illegal wildlife trade. It’s not only an ecological crisis—it is connected to wider crimes like money laundering, arms trafficking, and illicit financial flows,” Adeniyi warned.
Assistant Comptroller Anuhu Mani, Head of the Customs Wildlife Office, also commended key partners including Focused Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Wild Power Trust, Green Fingers, and Padrilas. He emphasized that cross-border cooperation and technical support from these groups have been instrumental in tracking and disrupting wildlife crimes.
The Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to deploying digital surveillance, cross-border enforcement tools, and forensic investigations in tackling the menace. Several arrests have been made, with prosecutions currently ongoing.
As the global community intensifies efforts to protect endangered species, the Nigeria Customs Service is positioning itself as a critical force in West Africa’s fight against illegal wildlife trafficking.