Nigeria’s Customs Service (NCS) has seized over 1,600 birds destined for Kuwait in what it calls the country’s largest wildlife trafficking bust.
The intercepted shipment included ring-necked parrots and green- and yellow-fronted canaries, seized at Lagos International Airport on 31 July during routine checks.
The birds lacked the required documentation, despite being common species, and an investigation is ongoing to identify and prosecute those responsible.
NCS spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada revealed the seizure is the biggest by number in Nigeria, a known transit hub for wildlife trafficking due to porous borders and weak enforcement.
The confiscated birds will be handed over to the National Parks Service for rehabilitation and release into the wild. The seizure was only made public recently to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Nigeria, a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), continues to battle illegal trade in wildlife products like ivory, pangolin scales, and songbirds.
The global illegal wildlife trade generates billions annually, with demand for songbirds fueled by competitions and wild parrots fetching high prices on black markets.