The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a major breakthrough in the fight against wildlife trafficking with the interception of four live pangolins in the Ajilete axis of Lagos waterways, reinforcing Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Hussaini Abdullahi, the seizure was effected during a targeted patrol operation carried out on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Abdullahi disclosed that at about 6:33 p.m., operatives of FOU Zone A, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a wooden boat conveying the endangered animals in wire mesh cages along Alapa Creek, Ajilete. The method of concealment, he said, clearly indicated the activities of an organised wildlife smuggling syndicate.
He explained that upon sighting Customs officers, the suspected smugglers abandoned the boat and fled into the creeks, leaving behind the four live pangolins, which were promptly secured by the patrol team.
To guarantee the safety and wellbeing of the endangered species, the animals were formally handed over to the Wildlife Conservation Centre for proper care and safekeeping on Friday, January 16, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m. The handover was conducted by the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement, DC A.O. Oguntuase, on behalf of the Comptroller, FOU Zone A, Gambo Aliyu.
Commending the officers involved in the operation, Comptroller Aliyu praised their professionalism, bravery and alertness during the night patrol, noting that such dedication was critical to disrupting trans-border crimes. He charged personnel of the Unit to remain resolute and proactive in combating smuggling and other illicit activities across the zone.
Aliyu reiterated the Unit’s unwavering commitment to the enforcement of wildlife protection laws, stressing that FOU Zone A would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to stamp out the illegal trade in endangered species.
Also reacting to the seizure, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, lauded the officers for their vigilance and adherence to global best practices in CITES enforcement. He noted that the successful interception underscored the Service’s zero-tolerance policy against individuals and syndicates whose actions undermine Nigeria’s international commitments and economic stability.
The CGC reaffirmed that the NCS, under his leadership, remains fully committed to safeguarding the nation’s biodiversity while strengthening enforcement against all forms of smuggling across Nigeria’s borders.