KUWAIT CITY, Aug 5: In a dramatic sting operation, Kuwaiti authorities have foiled a bold attempt to smuggle a stash of imported liquor hidden inside a shipping container — and arrested two Indian nationals in connection with the scheme.

The container, which arrived at Kuwait’s Shuaiba Port from a Gulf nation, was declared empty on paper. But sharp-eyed customs officers grew suspicious and ordered a full inspection. What they uncovered was anything but empty — the container’s floor had been cleverly modified with secret compartments housing professionally packaged bottles of alcohol.

Acting swiftly, the General Administration of Customs coordinated with the General Department for Drug Control (GDDC). Rather than seizing the shipment immediately, officials allowed the container to proceed under tight surveillance to a warehouse in the Ahmadi area.

There, a trap was sprung.

Authorities arrested two men — identified as Hanifa Muleri Nadu Velailey and Panika Veetil Javar Jaser — just as they were preparing to receive the illicit cargo. According to investigators, the pair confessed they had been acting under the direction of a man named “Zaheer” who is believed to be operating from India.

The Ministry of Interior has vowed to continue cracking down on smuggling operations in cooperation with customs, stressing its commitment to safeguarding national security and stamping out illegal substances.

Over 1,600 parrots and canaries seized at Lagos Airport en route to Kuwait without permit.

LAGOS, Nigeria, Aug 5:  In one of the largest wildlife seizures in recent years, customs officials at Nigeria’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos have intercepted a shipment of over 1,600 live birds, including parrots and canaries, being illegally transported to Kuwait.

The seizure took place on July 31, according to a statement released late Monday by the Nigeria Customs Service. Among the birds confiscated were ring-necked parakeets and yellow-fronted canaries, both highly sought-after species in the exotic pet trade.

Authorities confirmed the shipment lacked the necessary CITES permit—a key requirement under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, to which Nigeria is a signatory. CITES documentation is used to ensure that the international trade of wildlife does not threaten their survival.

Michael Awe, the customs controller at Lagos airport, stated that the birds were transported without any of the required legal documents to prove they had been obtained or exported lawfully.

“No illegal shipment will slip through the cracks under my watch at the airport,” Awe said. “The eagle eyes of my command officers are everywhere to detect and intercept.”

He added that an investigation is underway to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attempted smuggling.

The birds will be handed over to the National Parks Service, which oversees wildlife protection and conservation in Nigeria.

Nigeria has increasingly become a transit point in global wildlife trafficking, particularly for birds, reptiles, and ivory. The United Nations 2024 World Wildlife Report identifies parrots, songbirds, and birds of prey as among the most trafficked species globally, often smuggled for private collections, exotic pet markets, or use in traditional trophies and ornaments.

This recent seizure underscores ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to combat illegal wildlife trade and enforce international conservation regulations.