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Less than two weeks after it intercepted N3.17 billion donkey parts and others seizures, the Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu led Federal Operations Unit, Zone B of Nigeria Customs Service has
successfully intercepted a consignment of Pangolin scales and its derivatives within Kebbi State axis of the Zone.
Addressing newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday, the anti-smuggling strategist stated that acting on actionable intelligence, the operatives storm a hideout known as (slaughter house) in the suburbs of Zuru Town in Kebbi State on Friday, May 24, 2024 at about 1600hrs.
The team, according to the controller, discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales which were transported to the headquarters of FOU Zone ‘B’ in Kaduna.
He disclosed that after careful examination and counting, the pangolin scales weighed 445.45kg.
Explaining what’s pangolin, Comptroller Shuaibu noted that pangolin specie is one of the endangered species that is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flaura (CITES).
He explained further that Nigeria is signatory to the CITES Convention and all forms of trading in this species are clearly illegal.
He assured that the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to partner CITES to forestall the identified species from going into extinction.
The controller gave the value of this seizure at the International market to be Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand Naira (#3,955,596,000.00) only.
He added that one suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure while the main suspect is currently at large.
In his words: “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.”
Comptroller Shuaibu attributed the success of the operation to the robust intelligence sharing between the NCS and Wild life Office and the resilience by operatives of the Unit to leverage and utilize the
intels at their disposal to make the 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,” he stressed.
The controller called on the general public to continue to cooperate and stand with the NCS on its fight against smuggling, urging that they should work together to salvage this country and actualize the dream of the founding fathers.
He reiterated 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.