By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
A coordinated operation involving the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Nigeria Customs Service, and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) has led to the arrest of four suspected wildlife traffickers and the seizure of elephant tusks weighing 130.84 kilograms in Lagos and Ogun States.
The intelligence-led operation, carried out on Saturday, June 13, 2026, followed days of surveillance and tracking of suspected members of a wildlife trafficking network operating within the two states.
NESREA’s Assistant Director of Press, Nwamaka Ejiofor, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the operation was conducted by a joint tactical team comprising officials of NESREA, Customs, and the Wildlife Justice Commission across Ofada, Mowe, and Lagos.
She said the operation resulted in the interception of 22 pieces of elephant tusks and the seizure of a vehicle allegedly used in the illegal trade.
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, described the arrests and seizures as another major breakthrough in Nigeria’s efforts to combat wildlife crimes and protect endangered species.
According to him, the success of the operation demonstrates the country’s determination to ensure that criminal syndicates involved in the illegal wildlife trade do not find safe haven within its borders.
“This is further proof of Nigeria’s zero-tolerance stance on wildlife crimes,” Barikor said. “Nigeria will not be used as a hub for wildlife trafficking. NESREA and our partners are resolute on this.”
The agency noted that elephants are classified under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), making them among the most protected species in the world due to the threat of extinction.
NESREA further explained that trafficking in elephant tusks contravenes the provisions of Nigeria’s Endangered Species Act as well as the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in Domestic and International Trade) Regulations 2024.
Barikor commended the Nigeria Customs Service and the Wildlife Justice Commission for their collaboration, describing the operation as a testament to the effectiveness of intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation in tackling environmental and transnational crimes.
He disclosed that investigations were continuing to uncover the full scope of the trafficking network and identify other suspects connected to the illicit trade.
“Further investigations are ongoing as we work to dismantle the syndicate. All those connected with this crime will be made to face the law,” the NESREA chief stated.
The latest arrests mark another significant milestone in Nigeria’s campaign against wildlife trafficking, a crime conservationists say threatens biodiversity, fuels organized criminal activities, and undermines global efforts to protect endangered species.
