Smuggled Snakes, Spiders, Hairy Frogs Intercepted By Customs In Calabar (Photos)

Two men have been arrested by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday after three consignments containing 140 species of snakes and 660 other animals imported into Nigeria from Cameroon were intercepted. According to reports, the containers were brought in aboard a Cameroonian vessel tagged ‘MV Flesh’ through the Calabar waterway to the National Inland Waterways Authority jetty in Calabar, Cross River State.

The other animals which were identified as geckos, millipedes, hairy frogs and spiders, were said to be worth N6.9m.

Customs Area Comptroller in charge of Calabar Free Trade Zone, Cross River and Akwa Ibom Command, Mrs. Nanbyen Burromvyat, said the consignments were intercepted by vigilant officers on July 24 on arrival at the NIWA jetty.

She said that the consignments, which were Lagos-bound, are prohibited items under the Schedule 3 of the Revised Import Prohibition List (Trade) in the Common External Tariff.

Without opening the containers for possible fear of escape, Burromvyat immediately handed over the items and the two suspects arrested to authorities of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services for further investigations.