The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted three live pangolins allegedly being smuggled through Ogun State, in the latest seizure highlighting the illegal trade of one of the world’s most trafficked mammals.
The endangered animals were intercepted by officers of the Ogun I Area Command, Idiroko, at Abeokuta waterside following credible intelligence, according to the command.
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It stated that the animals were found confined in wire-mesh cages and concealed inside sacks in what Customs described as an attempt to evade detection. It added that the suspected traffickers fled after sighting the Customs patrol team.
The spokesperson for the command, Chado Zakari, said the manner in which the animals were concealed showed the cruelty associated with the illegal wildlife trade.
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“The pangolins were found tightly bound in sacks, a cruel method of concealment used by wildlife traffickers to evade detection,” Mr Zakari said.
He said the packaging also suggested that the seizure may be connected to an organised wildlife-trafficking operation.
“Upon inspection, officers discovered three pangolins confined in wire mesh cages and concealed within a sack. The sophisticated packaging suggests the involvement of an organised smuggling syndicate,” he said.
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Following the interception, the Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Command, Abdulhamid Ibrahim, handed the three pangolins over to Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation for rehabilitation and eventual release into a protected habitat.
Mr Ibrahim said the seizure demonstrated the command’s commitment to combating wildlife trafficking alongside its conventional anti-smuggling operations.
He, however, warned people involved in the illegal wildlife trade to desist.
“Trafficking pangolins and their derivatives attracts severe penalties. Under the recently passed Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, offenders risk fines of up to A12 million and prison terms of up to 10 years.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with Green Finger Wildlife and other stakeholders, remains resolute in enforcing these laws to protect the nation’s biodiversity,” Mr Ibrahim said.
He commended the officers involved in the operation and said the command would continue working with conservation organisations to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.
Receiving the animals, the Administrative Manager/Supervisor of Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation, Isaac Ime, commended the Customs command for intercepting the animals.
Mr Ime assured that the organisation would provide the necessary care for the rescued pangolins and work towards their rehabilitation and eventual release into a protected environment.
The seizure comes amid growing concern over Nigeria’s role in the international trafficking of pangolin products.
Researchers have identified Nigeria as a major transit hub for pangolin trafficking, with Nigerian-linked seizures involving hundreds of thousands of kilogrammes of pangolin scales over the years.
Why keeping a pangolin is illegal
Pangolins are not animals that individuals can simply capture from the wild and keep as pets or for commercial purposes in Nigeria.
The Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act places pangolin species listed in its schedules under legal protection. The law prohibits the hunting, capture and trade of species listed in its First Schedule.
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Also, NESREA said its enforcement covers the possession and display of endangered wildlife specimens and products.
NESREA specifically warned in March 2026 that individuals cannot possess, display or trade endangered wildlife specimens on social media, listing pangolins among the species affected by the prohibition.
The agency said the restrictions are based on Nigeria’s environmental laws and its obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
In CITES Appendix I, Pangolins were given the highest level of protection against international commercial trade. WhileNigeria’s existing wildlife legislation separately prohibits the hunting, capture or trade of pangolins listed under the Endangered Species Act.
In March, the Federal High Court in Lagos jailed two men after pleading guilty to charges involving the unlawful possession and trade of three live pangolins.
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