Customs, NESREA Smash Wildlife Trafficking Ring, Seize N126m Elephant Tusks, Arrest Four

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has dismantled a major wildlife trafficking syndicate in a coordinated intelligence-driven operation carried out in collaboration with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC).
The operation resulted in the seizure of 22 elephant tusks weighing a total of 130.84 kilograms, the arrest of four suspects, and the confiscation of a vehicle used in transporting the illicit wildlife products.
According to the Customs Area Command, the breakthrough followed months of intelligence gathering, surveillance, and investigations targeting an organised wildlife trafficking network operating within Nigeria and across international borders.
The operation was jointly executed by officers of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, and the SIS A Team of the Customs Intelligence Unit, with support from NESREA and the Wildlife Justice Commission.
Customs disclosed that the elephant tusks were intercepted at approximately 4:30 p.m. on June 13, 2026, in the Ofada-Mowe axis of Ogun State, while the four suspects were apprehended at separate locations across Lagos State.
The Service estimated the black-market value of the seized tusks in Asian markets at about N126.39 million.
The suspects and the recovered wildlife specimens remain in custody as investigations continue ahead of prosecution.
Speaking on the development, the Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described the operation as a major success in the fight against illegal wildlife trade and a demonstration of the Service’s commitment to enforcing environmental and conservation laws.
He noted that the seizure aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which seeks to protect endangered species from exploitation through illegal trade.
Aliyu also cited Section 55(1)(i) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which prohibits the unlawful trade in endangered species.
“This seizure underscores our unwavering commitment to combating illegal wildlife trafficking and safeguarding biodiversity,” he stated.
The Comptroller commended NESREA and the Wildlife Justice Commission for their collaboration, describing the success of the operation as evidence of the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in tackling transnational crimes.
He urged stakeholders to sustain efforts against criminal networks using Nigeria as a transit route for illicit wildlife trade and other cross-border criminal activities.
Aliyu further called on members of the public to support enforcement agencies by providing credible information on suspicious shipments, individuals, or activities linked to wildlife trafficking.
He assured that the Nigeria Customs Service would continue to strengthen enforcement measures and ensure that offenders are brought to justice in accordance with the law.