Nigeria Customs Seizes 10,603 Donkey Genitals

By Angel Ike

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has disclosed the interception of 40-foot container loaded with donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi confirmed this at the official handover of the seized items to the National Environmental Standards Agency (NESREA) in Abuja.

Represented by the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada, Adeniyi said the interception happened on Friday, June 5, 2025, at 9:00 pm by the coordinated surveillance officers of the
credible intelligence Special Wildlife Office (SWO), and the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).

He said the seizure is not an isolated incident, noting that the Special Wildlife Office has uncovered and disrupted multiple illicit wildlife trafficking operations across the country, over the past 12 months.

According to him, ” the recovery of six African Grey Parrots and the arrest of one suspect on 10 December 2024 at Kano, the interception of two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, one baby baboon and an African Grey Parrot at Lagos Airport in May 2025.

“In another separate operation, there was an arrest of one suspect in Ikom area of Cross River State linked to seizures of 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, 128 hornbill heads, and other exotic species. On 13 January 2025, the Service handed over rescued tortoises to the National Park Service in Oyo State.

“Several seizures involving taxidermy specimens, such as life-sized lions, zebra hides, gorilla parts, and pangolin scales have been recorded in various ports and logistics routes nationwide.

“One such case involved 119.4kg of pangolin scales found in a container concealed in sacks around Calabar area of Cross River State. In another development, 120 African Grey Parrots were rescued and one suspect arrested in Fufore area of Adamawa State.”

He said NCS is investing in capacity building, digital surveillance, species identification, and cross-border enforcement frameworks to combat this menace and protect Nigeria’s biodiversity.

Amihu Mani, Head of the Special Wildlife Office (SWO) said between December 2024 and June 2025, the team has successfully intercepted illicit products including
6087.9 kg of Pangolin scales, 4.15kg of worked Ivory, 157 Live African Grey Parrots
20 green Parrots, 4 live Senegal Parrots
2 Budgies, 6 live Monkeys
4 live Pangolins, 3022 donkey skins
37 Taxidermies, 16 Zebra Skins
10603 Male Donkey Genitals

He added that the team has apprehended more than 10 suspects involved in wildlife trafficking networks, and one conviction, disclosing that other cases are ongoing.

These actions according to him, have disrupted entire supply chains, reducing the availability of wildlife products on the black market.

He said these were achieved through strategic partnership with other sister agencies.