The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says at least 30,000 pangolins have been lost to wildlife smuggling in three years spanning 2021 till present.
The disclosure is coming on the heels of the NCS seizing of 9,493 kg of pangolin scales in one of the largest wildlife crime busts in recent years.
The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this in a statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.
Adeniyi said that the feat was the service’s bold step in the global fight against wildlife trafficking,
“The Kano/Kaduna operation yielded 2,293 kg of pangolin scales, leading to two arrests.
“The Lagos operation made a seizure of 7.2 tonnes of pangolin scales, with two additional arrests.
“Four persons were arrested in connection with these operations: two in Kano and two in Lagos.
“These seizures bring the total amount of pangolin scales intercepted by the NCS and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) to nearly 20 tonnes since 2021, representing the loss of over 30,000 pangolins,” Adeniyi said.
According to him, the historic operation, conducted in collaboration with WJC, highlights the NCS’s unwavering commitment to dismantling illegal networks trafficking endangered species, particularly across Africa.
He said that the two coordinated operations, which took place on Aug. 8, targeted criminal syndicates involved in the international trade of pangolin scales.
He noted that in the Kano/Kaduna axis officers successfully seized 2.293 tonnes of pangolin scales and arrested two suspects.
He said that a major haul of 7.2 tonnes of scales were recovered in Lagos simultaneously, where two more suspects were apprehended.
“These illicit goods, sourced from other West African countries, were being stockpiled for shipment to buyers in Asia.
“”This joint operation marks the largest seizure of pangolin scales globally since January 2020, underscoring NCS’s critical role in combating wildlife crime.
“Since 2021, the NCS, in partnership with the Wildlife Justice Commission, has seized nearly 20 tons of pangolin scales, an equivalent of over 30,000 pangolins lost to illegal poaching and trade, Adeniyi said.
The NCS vowed to intensify efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We are actively working with other law enforcement agencies to identify additional suspects involved in these cases.
“We will not rest until all those responsible for these heinous acts are apprehended and prosecuted,” NCS said.
Adeniyi said that the cumulative total of 9.493 tonnes of pangolin scales seized in a single day marked a milestone in Nigeria’s fight against wildlife crime and represented the largest pangolin scale seizure in one day worldwide since January 2020.
He said that the achievement was a testament to Nigeria’s leadership in wildlife conservation and its dedication to safeguarding endangered species.
He noted that the threat posed to pangolins and other endangered wildlife was unacceptable, adding that Nigeria was committed to collaborating with international partners to stop wildlife crime at its source.
He said that as traffickers continued to exploit new smuggling routes, the NCS was expanding its enforcement operations beyond ports and major cities.
Adeniyi added that the NCS was focusing on supply routes in northern Nigeria and border areas where illegal wildlife products frequently entered the country
.
He expressed the gratitude of the NCS to the WJC for its consistent support over the past four years.
“The Wildlife Justice Commission has been a vital partner in our efforts, and we look forward to further strengthening our collaboration as a model for dismantling transnational wildlife crime networks,” Adeniyi said.
The National Coordinator of Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office, Assistant Comptroller Abim Isafiade, also pledged NCS continued commitment in the fight against transnational wildlife crime networks.
“Nigeria Customs Service will not relent on our effort to support the global community in everything it takes to fight wildlife crime.
“Enforcement is just a part of the process, we will equally ensure that perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.
“This successful operation sends a strong message to wildlife traffickers that Nigeria remains committed to protecting its natural heritage and the global effort to end the illegal wildlife trade,” he said.(NAN)
