NCS intercepts N3.95b smuggled pangolin scales in Kebbi

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’ Kaduna of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a consignment of pangolin scales and its derivatives in Kebbi State worth N3.95 billion.

The unit also arrested one suspect in connection with the seizure, which weighed 445.45kg. The main suspect is currently at large.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna State, yesterday, the Comptroller of the unit, Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu, said operatives upped the ante in combat against smuggling of protected species and successfully intercepted the consignment.

He said the seizure took place barely two weeks after the unit, on May 21, 2024, declared its resolve not to allow illegal trading in endangered wildlife species and other smuggling activities to thrive in the zone.

Shuaibu said the operatives, acting on actionable intelligence, stormed a hideout known as ‘slaughter house’ in the suburbs of Zuru Town in Kebbi State on Friday, May 24, 2024 at about 1600hrs.

He said the team discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales, which were transported to the headquarters of FOU Zone ‘B’ in Kaduna, which upon careful examination and counting weighed 445.45kg.

Shuaibu said the offence contravenes Section 55 (1) paragraph C and I of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023.

He said pangolins are one of the endangered animals being protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which Nigeria is a signatory to.

He said empirical evidence shows that persons involved in illegal trafficking of endangered species hide under the business to launder money used in procuring drugs, arms and other illegal merchandise.

“You can imagine the havoc this might have caused if it had escaped the eagle eyes of our operatives. The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to partner CITES to prevent the identified species from going into extinction,” he said.

He called on the general public to continue to cooperate and stand with the NCS in its fight against smuggling, adding that the unit will continue to enforce the Federal Government’s policies, in line with international best practices.