Four suspected wildlife traffickers arrested, 130 kg of ivory seized in Nigeria

Four suspected wildlife traffickers have been arrested in Nigeria following a complex operation supported by the Wildlife Justice Commission, resulting in the seizure of 130.84 kg of ivory.

On 13 June 2026, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), acting on intelligence developed by Wildlife Justice, arrested four suspects during coordinated operations in Ofada, Ogun State, and Lagos. The operation resulted in the seizure of 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 130.84 kg.

The arrests follow several months of intelligence gathering and investigative work targeting a high-level wildlife trafficking network linked to the illegal ivory trade.

The operation targeted a senior figure within the illegal ivory trade who had been identified through Wildlife Justice intelligence as a key supplier and associate of traffickers arrested in previous investigations. Due to the individual's long-standing role, extensive connections, and access to significant quantities of ivory, the arrest is expected to have a substantial disruptive impact on the trafficking network.

“Wildlife Justice commends NCS and NESREA for their commitment, and continued leadership in combatting organised wildlife crime,” said Olivia Swaak-Goldman, Executive Director of the Wildlife Justice Commission.

“Over the past five years, sustained intelligence-led operations and coordinated law enforcement action have transformed the wildlife trafficking landscape in Nigeria. Traffickers who once operated with relative impunity are now facing a very different reality. Many have been arrested, forced to relocate, or significantly altered their operating methods in response to enforcement pressure.

This operation demonstrates the power of strong partnerships, intelligence-led enforcement, and the commitment of the Nigerian authorities to tackling organised wildlife crime. By systematically identifying and targeting key actors within trafficking networks, Nigeria is showing that it is possible to disrupt criminal operations, increase the risks for traffickers, and make wildlife crime an increasingly difficult and unsustainable business.”

The latest arrests further reinforce the structural shift taking place in Nigeria's wildlife trafficking landscape, where sustained enforcement pressure is impacting the ability of criminal networks to operate and profit from the illegal wildlife trade. As a result, traffickers are increasingly reluctant to maintain large stockpiles and are often forced to move smaller quantities of wildlife products, reducing opportunities for large-scale transactions and making the trade more difficult and less profitable.

The operation marks the 21st successful investigation conducted in partnership with NCS since 2021 and the second successful operation with NESREA since 2025. Together, these partnerships have resulted in the arrest of 48 wildlife traffickers, the seizure of 1,196 kg of ivory and 25,545 kg of pangolin scales, and 16 convictions to date. 

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