The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted three live pangolins during an anti smuggling operation at Oyo Dam, Igbo Ora, Ogun State, in a renewed effort to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
The endangered animals were intercepted at about 9.05am on Monday, October 12, 2026, when Customs operatives, acting on credible intelligence, discovered them concealed in a wire mesh cage inside a sack. The suspected traffickers reportedly abandoned the consignment and fled into a nearby swamp upon sighting the patrol team.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the unit’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi, in Ikeja, Lagos.
The Acting Controller of FOU Zone A, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, represented by the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement, Oluwaseun Oguntuase, described the interception as a significant achievement in the Service’s sustained campaign against smuggling, wildlife trafficking and transnational organised crime.
Afeni commended the officers for their vigilance and prompt response, noting that intelligence driven operations remained crucial to disrupting criminal networks involved in the illegal exploitation of Nigeria’s borders and waterways.
He said the operation also demonstrated the unit’s commitment to protecting the country’s biodiversity and enforcing laws against the trafficking of endangered wildlife.
Pangolins are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which regulates international trade in threatened wildlife species. Their illegal trade remains a major conservation concern, with trafficking posing a serious threat to their survival.
The Customs Service warned that anyone involved in the illegal possession, transportation, smuggling or commercialisation of protected wildlife could face prosecution and severe penalties under applicable Nigerian laws.
Following the interception, the three pangolins were handed over to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative Centre for safekeeping, rehabilitation and appropriate care to safeguard their welfare.
Afeni warned smugglers and their collaborators that FOU Zone A would intensify patrols, intelligence gathering and collaboration with relevant agencies to combat illegal wildlife trade. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to securing Nigeria’s borders, protecting endangered species and strengthening efforts to tackle transnational smuggling networks.