Customs Arrests Vietnamese, Others Over 397.5kg Pangolin Scales, Ivories
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested three Vietnamese and five others for attempted trafficking of 397.5kg pangolin scales and ivories through Nigerian port.
According to National Public Relations Officer of NCS, Timi Bomodi, the interception were made in conjunction with the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC).
According to him, preliminary investigation revealed the three Vietnamese nationals were identified as high ranking members of a major organised crime group involved in the trafficking of ivory, pangolin scales, rhino horns and lion bones from Mozambique and South Africa through Nigeria to Vietnam.
Bomodi noted that the three suspects were arrested while sourcing for pangolin scales in Nigeria, 397.5kg of which were found in their possession.
He explained that the suspects were arrested through an intelligence-led operation, saying that the collaboration between NCS and WJC led to the confiscation of 400kilogrammes of pangolin scales put up for sale on the illegal network.
He noted: “The two organisations were able to identify other members of the criminal syndicate for arrest to further put a stop to the environmental destruction posed by these unscrupulous elements. The arrested suspects have been charged to court on various counts bordering on the illegal trade in wildlife.
“These arrests came as part of a proactive enforcement operation targeting the top echelon of wildlife traffickers worldwide, and are assessed to have caused unprecedented disruptions to organized global wildlife trafficking network. This is the fourth major illegal wildlife arrest in one year resulting from the strategic partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service, Wildlife Justice Commission and other foreign governments. It demonstrates the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service as a formidable ally in the fight against wildlife trafficking. Initial crackdowns in 2021 had resulted in discoveries of 7.1 tons of pangolin scales and 850 kgs of ivory, all of which were seized by the NCS.”
Also, he stressed that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) commended officers of the service for their efforts in breaking the chain of illegal wildlife trade and unlawful deforestation and tree felling activities.
The CGC assured the public that the service would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to support the rest of the world in protecting endangered species and prevent deforestation.
Ali said: “Nigeria Customs Service would never allow perpetrators of these crimes to profit from it or escape the wrath of the law.”
It will be recalled that in 2021, the Comptroller General of Customs at a media briefing in Lagos showcased a seizure of pangolin scales and elephant tusks worth N22.6 billion.
The achievement was widely acknowledged as a major boost to the fight against the extinction of endangered wildlife species in Nigeria.
He said: “It is pertinent to conclude that Nigeria Customs will continue to enforce schedule 6 of the Common External Tariff which identified endangered species as absolute prohibition for export.”
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