The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), have intercepted 22 pieces of Elephant tusks worth N126, 390,440.00 , 4 male suspects and a vehicle.
According to the Customs FOU Zone A Public Relations Officer, Hussaini Abdullahi who disclosed this in a press release on 14thJune, 2026, the operation which followed intelligence gathering, surveillance and investigation, led to the interception of the tusks and the arrest of the suspects at Ofada, Mowe in Ogun State, while additional targets were apprehended simultaneously in Lagos.
According to him, the seizure was carried out at about 4:30 p.m. on June 13, 2026, by operatives of the FOU Zone A and the SIS A team of the Customs Intelligence Unit, with support from NESREA and WJC.The press release stated that the seized 130.84kg elephant tusks have an estimated black market value of N126.39 million in Asia.
The Unit disclosed that both the recovered tusks and the suspects are currently in custody pending further investigation and prosecution.
Speaking on the development, the Comptroller of FOU Zone A, Gambo Aliyu, described the seizure as a significant milestone in the fight against wildlife crime and a demonstration of the unit’s commitment to enforcing national and international wildlife protection laws.
Aliyu noted that Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), adding that Section 55(1)(i) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 prohibits the illegal trade in endangered species.
He said the interception underscores ongoing efforts by the Service and its partners to curb illegal wildlife trafficking and protect biodiversity.
The comptroller commended NESREA and the Wildlife Justice Commission for their support in the operation, describing their contributions as invaluable to the success of the enforcement action.He urged stakeholders to sustain the collaboration to prevent criminal networks from exploiting Nigeria as a transit route for illegal wildlife trade.
Aliyu also appealed to members of the public to support the NCS by providing information on suspicious shipments, activities or individuals linked to wildlife trafficking syndicates.
He warned that the Service would continue to take decisive enforcement actions against anyone found violating wildlife protection laws.
The seizure represents one of the latest efforts by Nigerian authorities to combat the illegal trade in endangered species, a crime that continues to threaten wildlife conservation and biodiversity across Africa.
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