CUSTOMS: FOU Zone B Intercepts Pangolin Scales Worth N3.9 Billion , Arrests One Suspect

The Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ Kaduna on Wednesday,said it intercepted consignment of Pangolin scales worth N3,955,596,000.00 within Kebbi state axis.

Controller FOU Zone B, Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuiabu disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer of the zone, Isah Sulaman.

Comptroller Shuiabu said 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.

He noted that the team discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales which were transported to the HQ of FOU Zone ‘B’ in Kaduna, pointing out that after careful examination and counting, the pangolin scales weighed 445.45kg.

The customs boss recalled that during zone’s recent briefing on May 21, 2024, declared its resolves not to allow illegal trading in endangered wildlife species and other smuggling activities to thrive in the Zone

According to the customs boss,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 (#3,955,596,000.00) only.

Harping on the importance of wildlife conservation, Shuiabu affirmed that:” 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.

He also revealed that one 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.

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.

“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.”