NCS Collaborate with Sister Agencies, Arrest 4 Suspects with 22 Elephants Tusks

By Stella Okocha 

The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) recorded a major breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to combat Wildlife crime and protect endangered species.

The collaboration recorded the interception of 22pcs of Elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, 4 male suspects and a vehicle.

According to the press statement released by the Command’s public relations officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi , on behalf of the Command, stated that the seizure was effected at about 1630hrs on 13th June 2026 at Ofada, Mowe, Ogun State and other targets arrested within Lagos, simultaneously.

The seized Elephant tusks in Asia, has black market value equivalent to One Hundred and Twenty-Six Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-One, Four Hundred and Forty Naira (N126, 390,440.00) only.

The Comptroller of the Unit Zone A, Gambo Aliyu described the seizure as a clear demonstration of the unit’ commitment to enforcing national and international Wildlife protection laws as contained in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which Nigeria is a signatory Section 55 (1) para 1 (i) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 prohibits the illegal trade in endangered species.

He said the arrest was made possible through a well coordinated intelligence gathering, surveillance, and investigation into an organized Wildlife trafficking syndicate operating within and beyond our borders led by the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A and the SIS A team of our Customs Intelligence Unit, with the support of the aforementioned strategic partners.

He added that this seizure also underscores ongoing enforcement efforts to stop illegal wildlife trade and protect biodiversity, and both the recovered specimen and the suspects are in custody pending further investigation and prosecution

The Comptroller appreciates all the relevant stakeholders, especially NESREA & WJC for their invaluable contribution, without which this would have been a nullity.

He urged them to sustain the tempo so as to nip the activities of criminal elements who exploit Nigeria as a transit route for their nefarious activities.

He appealed to to the public to assist the Nigeria Customs Service by reporting suspicious shipments, activities, or anyone with information relating to Wildlife trafficking syndicates to come forward as Customs will not hesitate to take enforcement action against those found to be in violation of the law.