The federal operations unit zone B of the Nigeria customs service says it intercepted pangolin scales worth ₦3.9 billion duty paid value from smugglers during an operation in Kebbi state.
This information was disclosed by the comptroller of the federal operations unit, Ahmadu Bello-Shuaibu on Wednesday at the unit’s headquarters in Kaduna state on Wednesday. He said the customs operatives acting on actionable intelligence, stormed a suburb of Zuru town in Kebbi state and successfully intercepted sacks of pangolin scales which weighed 445.45kg on May 24, 2024.
He said that a suspect was arrested in connection with the smuggled pangolin scales, and attributed the success of the operation to the robust intelligence sharing between the customs service and the wildlife office.
“We have declared our resolve not to allow illegal trading in endangered wildlife species and other smuggling activities to thrive in the Zone and within two weeks, our operatives have upped-the-ante in the combat against smuggling of protected species and successfully intercepted a consignment of Pangolin scale and its derivatives within Kebbi state axis of the Zone.
“Acting on actionable intelligence the operatives storm a hideout known as slaughterhouse in the suburbs of Zuru Town in Kebbi State on Friday, May 24, 2024, at about 1600hrs. The team discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales which were transported to the HQ of FOU Zone ‘B’ in Kaduna. After careful examination and counting, the pangolin scales weighed 445.45kg,” he said.
The comptroller stated that the pangolin scales contravene Section 55 (1) paragraph C and I of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023.
“Let me once again explain that the pangolin species is one of the endangered species that is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flaura (CITES). It is instructive that Nigeria is signatory to the CITES Convention and all forms of trading in this species are clearly illegal.
“The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to partner CITES to forestall the identified species from going into extinction. The value of this seizure at the international market is ₦3.95 billion. One suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure while the main suspect is currently at large.
“However, the Unit in collaboration with other sister agencies will not rest on its oars until the main suspect is arrested and brought to book. The offence contravenes Section 55 (1) paragraph C and I of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023.
The success of this operation lies in robust intelligence sharing between the NCS and Wildlife Office and the resilience by operatives of the Unit to leverage and utilise the coordinates given to them to make this arrest.
“We wish to put it on record that the success of the operation is unique in that it was casualty free. From empirical evidence, we make bold to say that those involved in the illegal trafficking of endangered species are hiding under it to launder money used in procuring drugs, arms and other illegal merchandise. You can imagine the havoc this may have caused if it had escaped the eagle eyes of our operatives.”
“l wish to call on the general public to continue to cooperate and stand with the NCS on its fight against smuggling. We must work together to salvage this country and to actualize the dream of our founding fathers.
“May l at this juncture repeat that the Unit shall continue to enforce the federal government policies in line with International best practices, no matter the campaign of calumny against the Service.”
