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The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B” Command, Kaduna, on Wednesday, said its operatives intercepted pangolin scales with a Duty Paid Value of N3.9bn.
The Customs FOU Zone B, comprises Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory.
The Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit, zone “B”, Ahmadu Bello-Shuaibu, who made the disclosure, said one arrest was made in connection with the smuggled pangolin scales.
According to the Comptroller, acting on actionable intelligence, operatives stormed a suburb of Zuru Town in Kebbi State, discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales which weighed 445.45kg on May 24.
He put the value of the seizure at the international market at N3,955,596,000.
The Customs chief said the success of the operation lay in robust intelligence sharing between the Service and Wild Life Office coupled with the determined efforts of operatives to carry out the arrest.
Bello-Shuaibu alleged that those involved in the illegal trafficking of endangered species were hiding under it to launder money used in procuring drugs, arms and other illegal merchandise.
“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.
“The value of this seizure at the International market is N3.95bn.
“Let me once again explain that the pangolin species is one of the endangered species that is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flaura.
“It is instructive that Nigeria is a signatory to the CITES Convention and all forms of trading in this species are clearly illegal.”
The Comptroller added that the service was more ever than before determined to partner with CITES to forestall the pangolin and other endangered species from going into extinction.
He also reiterated the commitment and determination of the Unit to continue to enforce Federal Government policies in line with International best practices while calling on the public to cooperate with the NCS in its fight against smuggling.
“We must work together to salvage this country and to actualize the dream of our founding fathers,” he added.