Seme Customs Busts Wildlife Smuggling Ring

A significant victory against global environmental crime was recorded by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, with the interception of a vehicle carrying endangered wildlife, including a lion cub, in clear violation of both national regulations and international treaties. The swift operation occurred along the critical Badagry- Seme Expressway, shining a light on the illicit cross-border trade in vulnerable species.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of Sunday, November 16, 2025, at approximately 2:19 a.m. at the Gbaji checkpoint. Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the details in a statement released on Monday, noting that customs operatives stopped a blue Mazda with registration number MUS 743 HA during a routine but intensified stop-and-search exercise.

The subsequent search of the vehicle led to the shocking discovery: hidden within the vehicle were a young lion cub and two Patas monkeys. These animals are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement that commits member nations, including Nigeria, to regulate or ban the trade of species facing extinction. The lion is classified as Vulnerable globally, and the Patas monkey species faces increasing threats, with one subspecies already categorized as Critically Endangered, underscoring the severity of the illegal transportation.

The two occupants of the vehicle were immediately detained. They were identified as Mr. Mathew Kofi, a national of the Benin Republic, and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian citizen. Under interrogation, the suspects admitted ownership of the seized wildlife, confessing that they had purchased the animals in Kano State and were actively attempting to smuggle them across the border into the Benin Republic. This suggests a well-established trafficking pipeline originating deep within Nigeria and moving through major transport corridors toward international destinations.

The Customs Command promptly seized the live animals and commenced the legal process of documentation. Both men remain in custody as the NCS initiates a deep-dive investigation to uncover their potential connections to a wider, sophisticated network specializing in the trafficking of exotic and endangered species.

Ensuring the immediate safety and welfare of the rescued animals was a priority. Later on Sunday, custody of the lion cub and the two monkeys was formally transferred to the Green fingers Wildlife Initiative, a non-governmental organization with the expertise to provide specialized care and rehabilitation. The handover was overseen by Deputy Comptroller AY Mohammed on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga.

Comptroller Adenuga used the success of the interception to reiterate the Command’s unwavering commitment to its dual mandate of enforcing trade laws and promoting environmental conservation. He emphasized the strategic importance of border security in protecting Nigeria’s natural heritage and pledged continued, robust collaboration with all relevant local and international agencies to effectively combat the illegal trade in endangered species across the nation’s borders. The operation serves as a strong signal that Nigeria is intensifying its efforts to stamp out the lucrative but destructive practice of wildlife trafficking.