Customs intercepts 63 smuggled live parrots, hawk in Seme

... Arrests two suspects

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has interceped 62 live African Parrot birds and a hawk valued at N6.9million being smuggled out of the country.

Controller of the command, Comptroller Timi Bomodi,who disclosed this while addressing journalists at his maiden press briefing in Seme on Monday said the endangered wildlife were detected by operatives of the command while on patrol along Seme – Badagry Expressway.

He said, ‘On the 25th of September at about 0400hrs, Officers and Men of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command while on patrol along Seme – Badagry Expressway, acting on credible intelligence intercepted a luxurious bus enroute from Kaduna to Benin Republic.

“Upon search of the bus, Fifty-One (51) live Green parrots, Five (5) live African Grey Parrots, Five (5) dead Green Parrots, One (1) dead African Grey Parrot, and One (1) live Hawk in iron nets and a Paper Box were discovered. Six (6) of these birds have died due to the trauma of transporting them in this condition.”

Comptroller Bomodi said two suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure.

Comptoller Bomodi condemned the criminal act by some members of the society noting that the trade in endangered wildlife contravenes the Convention on International Trade On Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) an International Agreement between Governments of which Nigeria is a signatory.

The Comptroller warned perpetrators of this illegal trade to stay out of the Lagos – Abidjan corridor or they will continue to incur heavy losses if they so insist.

In line with the dictates of the Nigeria Customs Service of promoting inter-agency collaboration and synergy, and considering the nature of the item, the NCS boss handed over the seized Parrot Birds to the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) Seme Command.

He added that officials of the National Park Service will be informed of the seizure as it is their responsibility to rehabilitate and protect them from further harm.