By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against wildlife trafficking and smuggling, intercepting endangered animal species and contraband goods in separate intelligence-driven operations in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
The seizures were carried out by operatives of the NCS Borno/Yobe Area Command along strategic routes in the city, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to combating illicit trade and protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity.
In an official statement issued on April 9, 2026, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Ubali, disclosed that the wildlife interception occurred along Kano Road in Maiduguri when operatives stopped a Mercedes-Benz wagon with registration number ABJ 517 AR.
According to the statement, officers discovered several endangered wildlife species concealed in the vehicle, including two hyenas, one porcupine and 24 African crowned crane birds.
Ubali explained that the animals fall under Appendix I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a global agreement that affords the highest level of protection to endangered species and strictly regulates their trade.
He noted that the interception underscores the statutory responsibility of the Customs Service in safeguarding wildlife resources and preventing illegal trafficking that threatens the survival of protected species.
“It is one of the mandates of the NCS to ensure that wildlife species are protected and that their survival is not threatened,” the statement said.
The Command estimated the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized animals at about ₦10 million.
Reacting to the development, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Idris, reiterated the Service’s zero-tolerance stance against 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,” Idris stated.
In a related operation, the Command also intercepted a Volkswagen Golf vehicle along the Nguru–Gashua Road in Yobe State carrying smuggled goods.
Upon inspection, officers discovered 65 cartons of foreign juice branded “Djino Cocktail de Fruits,” carefully concealed with two 50-kilogramme bags of Arabic gum and sugar.
The smuggled items were valued at ₦2.73 million, bringing the cumulative Duty Paid Value of all seizures recorded in the operations to ₦12.73 million.
The Command emphasized that the successful operations reflect its intensified surveillance and enforcement activities aimed at dismantling smuggling networks operating within the region.
It also urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and to support security and enforcement agencies by providing credible information that could aid efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and other forms of cross-border crime.
