Customs smuggling foil more than 1,600 birds that are endangered at Lagos Airport

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Muhammated Murtala Airport Command, has intercepted the trading efforts of large wildlife involving 1,620 protected birds destined for illegal exports to Kuwait.

According to a statement issued Monday by the area controller, Michael Awe’s strict supervisor, illegal cargo was found on July 31 by Customs officers placed at the airport control post.

“In addition, this bird of life, more than 1,620 number: ringneck, parakeets (parrots), and canaries (green and yellow in front) are protected species,” said Awe.

He explained that the export effort violated the protocol for the protection of international wildlife. Birds, which are classified under endangered species, are not accompanied by mandatory conventions about international trade in wild fauna species and flora permits (CITES).

“Because Nigeria is a signing by quoting wild fauna and flora, we are therefore assigned to the responsibility to ensure that international trade in this specimen follows the process that should be,” Awe emphasized.

He further condemned the effort, emphasizing the need for documentation which confirmed that the birds were legally sourced and in a way that did not threaten their survival.

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“This is a cargo that should be accompanied by permissions needed and other documentation needed to prove that birds are obtained legally. This is to ensure that trade will not harm their survival; Also, all species are threatened with other extinct,” he said.

AWE’s financial supervisor stressed that the investigation was ongoing to track those who were responsible for illegal shipping. Meanwhile, birds will be handed over to national park services for maintenance and rehabilitation.

He added that this step was in harmony with the wider environmental protection mandate of customs services and reflecting the policy direction of the General of Customs compositis, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who also currently changing the World Customs Organization Council.

Awe ended with a strong declaration: “The orders and personnel have decided that there is no illegal shipping that will sneak through the gaps at the airport.”