A major wildlife trafficking ring operating in Nigeria was disrupted on May 24, 2025 in a joint law enforcement operation code-named Operation Teak. The operation, led by the Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office (NSWO) with support from Focused Conservation and the Nigeria Customs Service Police, resulted in the arrest of a prominent illegal pet supplier and several associates attempting to sell live wildlife during a covert buy-bust operation in Lagos.
Authorities anticipated counter-surveillance measures and deployed early to the scene, successfully preparing for contact with the suspects. When the traffickers arrived, law enforcement swiftly moved in. Although accomplices acting as spotters attempted to flee the scene at high speed, they were later apprehended and taken into custody.
The operation led to the rescue of nine wild animals, all found in severely malnourished and distressed conditions:
- Five Mona Monkeys (Cercopithecus mona), native to West Africa, often targeted for the exotic pet trade despite their vital ecological role as seed dispersers in forest environments.
- Two Tantalus Monkeys (Chlorocebus tantalus), social primates known for their intelligence and adaptability—yet highly vulnerable when removed from their troop and natural habitat.
- One Baboon (Papio spp.), a powerful and highly intelligent primate often exploited for entertainment or sold as exotic pets despite their complex emotional and social needs.
- One African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus), a critically endangered species and one of the most trafficked birds globally due to its exceptional intelligence and ability to mimic human speech.
These animals were handed over to the Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative, a local wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization based in Lagos, where they are now receiving much-needed medical attention and care.
“This type of trafficking not only violates international wildlife protection laws but also causes immense suffering to the animals involved,” said Focused Conservation’s CEO Wim Brown, “These species belong in the wild—not in cages, markets, or the hands of collectors.”
Operation Teak is part of Focused Conservation’s broader mission to support wildlife crime investigations and help establish and train wildlife enforcement units across Africa. Since 2018, Focused Conservation-supported teams have conducted nearly 900 operations and made over 700 arrests targeting poaching, trafficking, and environmental crimes.
The investigation into this trafficking network is ongoing, and additional arrests or charges may follow.
