The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B” Command, Kaduna, on Wednesday, said its operatives intercepted pangolin scales with Duty Paid Value of N3.9bn.
The Customs FOU Zone B, comprises Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Kwara states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B”, Ahmadu Bello-Shuaibu, who made the disclosure, said one arrest was made in connection with the smuggled pangolin scales.
According to the comptroller, the FOU Zone B operatives, acting on actionable intelligence, stormed a suburb of Zuru Town in Kebbi State, discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales which weighed 445.45kg in May 24.
He puts the value of the seizure at the international market at N3,955,596,000.
The customs chief said the success of the operation lay in robust intelligence sharing between the service and the Wildlife Office coupled with the determined efforts of operatives to carry out the arrest.
Bello-Shuaibu alleged that those involved in the illegal trafficking of endangered species were hiding under it to launder money used in procuring drugs, arms and other illegal merchandise.
He said, “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 the Kebbi State area of the Zone.
“Acting on actionable intelligence, the operatives stormed a hideout known as (Slaughterhouse) in the suburb 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 value of the seizure at the international market was worth Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand Naira (N3,955,596,000.00) only.
“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.
“It is instructive that Nigeria is a signatory to the CITES Convention and all forms of trading in this species are clearly illegal,” he added.
The comptroller added that the service was more ever than before determined to partner CITES to forestall the pangolin and other endangered species from going into extinction.
He also reiterated the commitment and determination of the unit to continue to enforce the Federal Government policies in line with international best practices while calling on the public to cooperate with the NCS in its fight against smuggling.
“We must work together to salvage this country and to actualise the dream of our founding fathers,” he added.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
