The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B, Kaduna, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday intercepted Pangolin Products worth N3,955,596,000.00 in Kebbi State.
Giving the report in a press conference on Wednesday, the CAC, Comptroller of the Ahmadu Shuaibu said the operatives of the Command acted on actionable intelligence and stormed 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 headquarters of FOU Zone ‘B’ in Kaduna.
After careful examination and counting, the pangolin scales weighed 445.45 kilogrammes.
The CAC explained 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,” he stated.
He declared that the value of the seizure at the International market is three billion, nine hundred and fifty-five million, five hundred and ninety-six thousand naira (N3,955,596,000.00) only.
Shuaib disclosed that one suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure while the main suspect is currently at large.
However, he said the Unit in collaboration with other sister agencies will not rest on its oars until the main suspect is arrested and brought to book.
He also pointed out that the offence contravenes Section 55 (1) paragraph C and I of the NCS Act 2023.
According to him 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 utilise 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,” the CAC declared.
He attributed the quest to launder money as the main reason for this illegal trafficking of endangered species based on empirical evidence.
“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,” said he.
While reiterating 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, Shuaib called on the public to cooperate with NCS in fighting against smuggling.
“I 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 actualise the dream of our founding fathers,” he pleaded.