Keypoints
- 1,620 protected birds headed to Kuwait seized by customs at Lagos airport
- Shipment lacked mandatory CITES permit and legal documentation
- Birds transferred to National Parks Service; investigation ongoing
NIGERIAN customs officials at Murtala Muhammed International Airport have uncovered and seized a shipment of more than 1,620 live parrots and canaries being illegally exported to Kuwait, marking one of the most significant wildlife trafficking interceptions in recent memory.
Shipment uncovered without CITES permits
On July 31, vigilant officers intercepted a cargo manifesting ring‑necked parakeets and yellow‑fronted ring‑necked canaries—protected under international law—with no accompanying CITES permits or legal documentation validating their acquisition and transport.
Legal implications and international commitments
As a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Nigeria is obligated to enforce strict controls on cross-border trade involving endangered wildlife. The absence of proper documentation rendered the shipment unlawful under both national law and international protocol.
Enforcement action and handover plans
Comptroller Michael Awe from the Nigeria Customs Service affirmed that investigations are under way to identify those responsible. He declared, ‘no illegal shipment will slip through the cracks under my watch.’ The seized birds are now set to be transferred to the National Parks Service for rehabilitation or care.
