Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with NESREA and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), has intercepted a haul of elephant tusks valued at N126.3 million and arrested four suspects during coordinated operations in Ogun and Lagos States.
Comptroller Gambo Aliyu of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A announced the seizure on Monday via a statement issued by the unit’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Hussaini Abdullahi.
The operation yielded 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, alongside a vehicle allegedly used in the trafficking network. Describing the success as a significant breakthrough, Mr Aliyu attributed it to targeted intelligence, surveillance, and investigations into an organised syndicate operating both within Nigeria and across international borders.
The primary seizure occurred at approximately 4:30 pm on 13 June 2026 in Ofada, Mowe, Ogun State, while additional suspects were apprehended simultaneously in Lagos. The tusks, destined for Asian black markets, carry an estimated value of N126.3 million. All exhibits have been secured as evidence, while the four male suspects remain in custody pending prosecution in accordance with Nigerian law and international treaties.
Mr Aliyu underscored that the enforcement action is legally anchored in Section 55(1)(i) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and aligns with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Commending NESREA and the Wildlife Justice Commission for their collaboration, the comptroller urged the public to report suspicious shipments and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustaining enforcement pressure. He stressed that Nigeria must not become a transit route for wildlife trafficking and other transnational crimes.
(NAN)
