The Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intercepted a large consignment of illegal wildlife products at Calabar’s Mfum/Ekok Joint Border Station.
Comptroller Chukwudi Ogbonna, the Customs Area Controller, disclosed this during a press briefing in Calabar on Monday, March 24, 2025.
Comptroller Ogbonna revealed that the items were seized from a traveller arriving Nigeria from Cameroon during a routine baggage inspection at the border station on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
“The individual was found in possession of 213 parrot heads, 29 packs of parrot feathers,128 African hornbill heads, 5 eagle heads, 1 pack of eagle feathers, 2 chimpanzee heads, 4 hands, and 4 legs. The suspect was arrested and detained, pending further investigation,” he stated.
Ogbonna stressed the severity of the crime, citing violations of international agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the NCSA 2023.
He continued: “This illegal wildlife trade not only undermines our biodiversity but also fuels transnational crime, threatening economic stability and public safety. The Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in enforcing compliance with all applicable laws to protect our natural heritage.”
The Comptroller assured the public that the Command, under his leadership, would not relent on its crackdown on smuggling – and called on citizens to support their efforts by reporting illicit activities.
He expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership, as well as the Cross River State Government, security agencies, and officers of the Command for their collaborative efforts in tackling wildlife trafficking.
