*The 22 pieces of the Elephant tusks and the four suspects*

The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Lagos of the Nigeria Customs Service NCS, in collaboration with its partners including 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 crimes and protect endangered species with the interception of 22 pieces of Elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, four male suspects and a vehicle.

The seized Elephant tusks in Asia, has black market value equivalent to N126.4million (One Hundred and Twenty-Six Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-One, Four Hundred and Forty Naira) only.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Hussaini Abdullahi, the arrest was made possible through a well- coordinated intelligence gathering, surveillance, and investigation into an organised wildlife trafficking syndicate operating within and beyond Nigeria’s land borders led by the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A and the SIS A team of Customs Intelligence Unit, with the support of NESRA and WJC, which are strategic partners.

The seizure, he noted, was effected at about 1630hrs on June 13, 2026 at Ofada, Mowe, Ogun State and other targets arrested within Lagos, simultaneously.

Both the recovered specimen and the suspects are in custody pending further investigation and prosecution.

The Controller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, while responding to the seizure, described it as “a clear demonstration of the Unit’s 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.”

The seizure is also in tandem with section 55 (1) para 1 (i) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 prohibit the illegal trade in endangered species.

According to him, this seizure also underscores ongoing enforcement efforts to stop illegal wildlife trade and protect biodiversity.

The Comptroller appreciates all the relevant stakeholders, especially NESREA and 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 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.