Nigeria Seizes 1,600 Birds Bound for Kuwait at Lagos Airport
Customs intercept exotic bird cargo at Lagos airport en route to Kuwait; officials cite lack of CITES permits and vow crackdown on wildlife trafficking.
- Over 1,600 exotic birds, including parrots and canaries, seized at Lagos airport
- Shipment lacked required CITES permits for legal international transport
- Authorities investigating culprits; birds handed to National Parks Service
Nigerian customs authorities have intercepted a massive shipment of over 1,600 live birds at Lagos’ international airport, preventing their illegal export to Kuwait in what officials describe as one of the largest bird trafficking busts in recent years.
The seized birds — which included ring-necked parakeets and yellow-fronted canaries — were confiscated on July 31 after customs officers discovered they were being transported without the necessary CITES permit or supporting legal documentation.
Michael Awe, the customs controller at the airport, said the operation reflects the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on wildlife trafficking.
“No illegal shipment will slip through under my watch. My officers are alert and ready to detect and intercept any smuggling attempt,” he declared.
Nigeria has increasingly become a hotspot and transit route for wildlife trafficking, despite being a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The 2024 UN World Wildlife Report identifies parrots, canaries, and birds of prey as some of the most trafficked species globally, often targeted for the exotic pet trade, private collections, or use in feather-based crafts.
Authorities are currently investigating those behind the attempted smuggling, and the birds are set to be handed over to the National Parks Service for proper care and relocation.
