Authorities at the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service have apprehended two individuals for trying to smuggle African parrots and a hawk, with a total value of N6.89 million, into Benin Republic.

The birds were concealed in a luxurious bus that originated from Kaduna state en route to Benin Republic.

The United Nations has imposed a ban on the trade of African grey parrots and listed them as a priority species to safeguard against extinction.

Customs Area Controller for Seme Area Command, Timi Bomodi, confirmed the seizure, which took place on September 25, 2023, around 4 am.

He explained that officers and personnel of the Command, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted the luxurious bus along the Seme-Badagry Expressway.

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Upon searching the vehicle, they discovered 51 live green parrots, five live African grey parrots, five dead green parrots, one dead African grey parrot, and one live hawk, all confined in iron nets and a paper box.

Unfortunately, six of the birds had died due to the harsh conditions during transport.

Two suspects were arrested in connection with the illegal shipment, and the seized African parrot birds were assigned a duty paid value (DPV) of N6,859,932.

Bomodi strongly condemned the act, emphasizing that trafficking in endangered wildlife violated the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement to which Nigeria is a signatory.

He warned those involved in such illegal activities to avoid the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.