The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B” Command, Kaduna, announced on Wednesday that its operatives had intercepted pangolin scales with a Duty Paid Value, DPV of N3.9 billion.

 

Covering Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, and the Federal Capital Territory, the Customs FOU Zone B is responsible for this significant seizure.

 

Ahmadu Bello-Shuaibu, the Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B”, revealed that one individual was arrested in connection with the smuggled pangolin scales.

 

Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives raided a suburb of Zuru Town in Kebbi State, where they discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales weighing 445.45kg on May 24.

 

The Comptroller estimated the value of the seizure at the international market to be N3,955,596,000.

 

Bello-Shuaibu credited the operation’s success to robust intelligence sharing between the Service and the Wildlife Office, along with the dedicated efforts of operatives to make the arrest.

 

He alleged that those engaged in the illegal trafficking of endangered species often use it as a cover to launder money used in procuring drugs, arms, and other illicit 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 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.

 

The value of this seizure at the International market is N3.95bn.

 

“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.”

 

The Comptroller added that the service was more ever than before, determined to partner with 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 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 actualize the dream of our founding fathers,” he added.