In brief
Nigeria's customs agency has announced a substantial bust in wildlife trafficking, having seized over 1,600 birds, including ring-necked parrots and green- and yellow-fronted canaries, destined for Kuwait. This seizure, deemed the largest in the country’s history, took place on July 31 at Lagos International Airport but was only publicized recently to protect the ongoing investigation. Abdullahi Maiwada, spokesperson for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), highlighted that the birds were intercepted during routine checks due to the absence of proper documentation and permits.
Despite the commonality of these species, they require legal clearance for transport. Nigeria's challenges with porous borders, corruption, and inadequate enforcement measures make it a hotspot for wildlife trafficking, particularly for illicit trade in ivory and pangolin scales. NCS confirmed that most trafficked wildlife is often directed to Asia, despite Nigeria being a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).Currently, the NCS is working to identify individuals linked to this shipment, with plans to rehabilitate the seized birds under the care of the National Parks Service before their eventual release. BirdLife International estimates that the global illegal wildlife trade generates between $7 billion and $23 billion annually, with songbirds such as canaries being highly sought after due to their popularity in singing competitions.
