Customs  Intercepts 105 Wild Birds Worth N24m in Badagry

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Saturday said that it had intercepted  105 wild birds being smuggled through Seme-Badagry Expressway.

The Controller of the  Command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, in a statement, said that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the birds  was worth N24,912,928.

Bomodi said  officers of the command ,while on patrol  of  Seme -Badagry Expressway  , found  the birds after intercepting two buses, one coming to Nigeria from Togo and another heading to Benin Republic from  Katsina on Sept .27 and Sept.28 respectively.

“The cross-examination of these buses revealed that 60 green parrots, 14 budgerigar parrots, six eastern rosella parrots, two macaw parrots, one white cockatoo parrots,

“Others are four Rose Ringed Parakeets parrots, one Maidain Dock birds, three love birds and four other birds were discovered.

“About 10 of these birds have died due to the trauma of transporting them in this condition.

“Two suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure,” he said.

Bomodi condemned this criminal act by some members of the society.

He reiterated that trade in endangered wildlife contravenes the Convention on International Trade On Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement among  governments of which Nigeria is a signatory.

The Controller said that the those doing the  illicit business would continue to be intercepted and  arrested so long as they refuse to stay off  the Lagos – Abidjan corridor.

“In line with the dictates of NCS of promoting inter-agency collaboration and synergy, the seized wild birds have been handed over to the Officials of the National Park Service as it is their responsibility to rehabilitate and protect them from further harm,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the command had  on Sept.24  also intercepted smuggled African parrots en route Benin Republic from Kaduna.

The Controller said the birds  loaded in a luxury bus was intercepted  along the Seme-Badagry Expressway.

He added that the birds had a DPV worth N6.9m, adding that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures. (NAN)