Customs raids smugglers hideout ‘slaughter house’ intercepts pangolin, other endangered species worth N3.9b

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’ Kaduna has given account of it’s onslaught on smugglers of endangered wildlife species among which was consignment of Pangolin scale and its derivatives valued at N3.9 billion at the International market.

The wildlife weighing 445.45kg according to Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu, Controller, Federal Operations Unit Zone B Kaduna who revealed that the interception and arrest of one suspect was made when they stormed a hideout known as ‘slaughter house’ in the suburbs of Zuru Town of Kebbi state of the Zone in a period of two weeks.
This lofty feat the controller said was made possible through intelligence sharing with the wildlife office and robust operations by men of his command.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday, he frowned that pangolin and other wildlife species are at the verge of extinction by unscrupulous elements stated they are protected by the Convention on international Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flaura CITES.
Shuaibu went on to say, “You may recall that during our recent briefing on May 21, 2024, we declared our resolve not to allow illegal trading in endangered wildlife species and other smuggling activities to thrive in the Zone.
“Between that time and today which is barely two weeks, 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 Kebbi state axis of the Zone.
He revealed, “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 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.

“Let me once again explain that the 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).

“It is instructive that Nigeria is signatory to the CITES Convention and all forms of trading in this species are clearly illegal.
“The Nigeria Customs Service will continue to partner CITES to forestall the identified species from going into extinction.

“The value of this seizure at the International market is Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand Naira (#3,955,596,000.00) only.

“ One (1) Suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure while the main suspect is currently at large. 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 contravene Section 55 (1) paragraph C and I of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023.

“The success of this operation lies in robust intelligence sharing between the NCS and Wild life Office and the resilience by operatives of the Unit to leverage and utilize the coordinates given to them to make this 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.

“l wish to call on the general public to continue to cooperate and stand with the NCS on its fight against smuggling. We must work together to salvage this country and to actualize the dream of our founding fathers.”
He warned that no amount of calumnious campaign will deter them from enforcing government policy on wildlife preservation.