The Nigeria Customs Service’s Federal Operations Unit, Zone A Ikeja, has announced the apprehension of Mr Felix Maiva, a notorious wildlife smuggling figure. 

The unit’s Public Relations Officer, Theophilus Duniya, revealed on Friday that Maiva had been evading capture since 2021.

Duniya detailed that Maiva’s arrest resulted from an extensive investigation and surveillance operation initiated after discovering a 20-foot container filled with wildlife destined for Vietnam via Apapa Port in 2021.

“Maiva’s arrest was a fallout of intense investigation and surveillance that followed the discovery of a 20-foot container found to contain 4,752kg of elephant ivory, 5,239kg of pangolin scales, 5kg of rhinoceros horns, and some lion skeletons.

“The illegal wildlife products were bound to be exported to Haiphong, Vietnam, in January 2021 through the Apapa Seaport, Lagos, Nigeria.

Duniya emphasized that a previous wildlife seizure by the NCS operatives in Apapa led to the conviction of a clearing agent, Mr Felix Olame, by a Federal High Court in Lagos in June 2023.