In a statement on Monday, customs officials confirmed the July 31 seizure and noted that the shipment lacked the required CITES permit and documentation to verify legal acquisition
Nigerian customs authorities have intercepted over 1,600 exotic birds, including ring-necked parakeets and green and yellow fronted canaries, at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed International Airport. The birds, which were being illegally transported to Kuwait without a permit, represent one of Nigeria’s largest wildlife trafficking busts in recent years.
In a statement on Monday, customs officials confirmed the July 31 seizure and noted that the shipment lacked the required CITES permit and documentation to verify legal acquisition. Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Mark Ofua, West Africa spokesperson for Wild Africa, praised the operation as a “sign of positive change,” highlighting Nigeria’s role as a trafficking hub. “Nigeria’s porous borders, widespread corruption, and weak enforcement make it a key transit point for ivory, pangolin scales and other wildlife products destined for Asia,” he said.
The birds will be handed to the National Parks Service for rehabilitation. Authorities say investigations into the illegal cargo are ongoing.