In a major win against wildlife trafficking, the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted over 1,600 exotic birds at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The birds, which were being smuggled to Kuwait, were discovered without proper documentation, including the required CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) permits.
The shipment, which included species such as ring necked parakeets and green and yellow fronted canaries, was seized on July 31 at the airport’s cargo terminal an area soon to undergo reconstruction under the Federal Government’s airport modernization project.
Wildlife conservationists welcomed the seizure as a sign of improved enforcement efforts.
Mark Ofua, West Africa spokesperson for the NGO Wild Africa, noted Nigeria’s historical struggles with border control and corruption, which have made the country a key route for smuggling African wildlife to Asia and the Middle East.
He emphasized that the illegal wildlife trade globally is estimated to be worth between $8 and $10 billion annually.
Authorities have launched a full investigation to uncover those responsible for the attempted trafficking.
The confiscated birds are being transferred to the National Parks Service for care and future release back into the wild.
Officials say better infrastructure, tighter surveillance, and increased collaboration between agencies are helping to curb smuggling activities at the airport, which has become a known hotspot for international trafficking.
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