Customs Intercept Endangered Wildlife, Smuggled Goods Worth ₦12.73m in Borno, Yobe
Customs Intercept Endangered Wildlife, Smuggled Goods Worth ₦12.73m in Borno, Yobe
Customs Intercept Endangered Wildlife, Smuggled Goods Worth ₦12.73m in Borno, Yobe
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Borno/Yobe Area Command, has intercepted endangered wildlife species and smuggled goods in separate operations along major routes in Maiduguri, intensifying efforts to curb illicit trade and protect Nigeria’s biodiversity.
According to a statement issued on April 9, 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Ubali, the seizures were made along Kano Road in Maiduguri.
The statement revealed that operatives intercepted two hyenas, one porcupine, and 24 African crowned crane birds concealed in a Mercedes-Benz wagon with registration number ABJ 517 AR. The wildlife species are listed under Appendix I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), granting them the highest level of protection against illegal trade.
Ubali noted that the operation underscores the Command’s commitment to tackling wildlife trafficking, stressing that safeguarding endangered species remains a core mandate of the Service.
“It is one of the mandates of the NCS to ensure that wildlife species are protected, and their survival is not threatened,” the statement said.
The seized animals have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) estimated at ₦10 million.
Reacting, the Customs Area Controller, Abdullahi Idris, warned that the Service would not tolerate wildlife trafficking within its jurisdiction.
“We will not tolerate wildlife trafficking in our territory. We are working tirelessly with relevant partners and sister agencies to protect Nigeria’s wildlife heritage and bring perpetrators to justice,” he said.
In a related development, operatives intercepted a Volkswagen Golf vehicle along the Nguru–Gashua Road in Yobe State, conveying 65 cartons of foreign juice branded “Djino Cocktail de Fruits,” concealed with two 50kg bags of Arabic gum and sugar.
The smuggled goods were valued at ₦2.73 million, bringing the total Duty Paid Value of all seizures to ₦12.73 million.
The Command urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and support enforcement efforts by providing credible information to help combat wildlife trafficking and other forms of smuggling.
Customs Intercept Endangered Wildlife, Smuggled Goods Worth ₦12.73m in Borno, Yobe
