The Nigeria Customs Service says it has intercepted 420 kilograms of pangolin scales during a coordinated intelligence-led operation in a suburb of the Kano metropolis.
Disclosing this on Thursday during a press briefing in Kano, the area comptroller, Dalhatu Abubakar, stated that the seizure was made on Wednesday at about 7:00 p.m.
He stated that the seizure resulted from a joint operation conducted by officers from the Customs Special Wildlife Office, the Customs Intelligence Unit, and the Customs Police Unit.
Mr Abubakar said one male suspect was arrested in connection with the illegal wildlife trade, and he was currently in custody for further investigation.
“The operation was aimed at combating illicit international trade in wildlife and related crimes, as well as protecting our irreplaceable natural resources for current and future generations,” he said.
According to Mr Abubakar, the successful interception of the pangolin scales represented a significant disruption to transnational criminal networks involved in the trafficking of endangered species.
“This seizure sends a strong message to traffickers that wildlife crimes will not be tolerated in Kano State, Nigeria, or anywhere else in the world,” he added.
Mr Abubakar stated that the action was in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, specifically Section 55(c), which mandates the Service to enforce laws related to the protection of endangered species and biodiversity conservation.
The comptroller also acknowledged the support of international partners, including the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office and Focus Conservation, for their continued collaboration in the fight against wildlife crime.
“I wish to commend the relentless efforts of our officers, especially the Special Wildlife Office, for their professionalism and dedication to duty. I also express deep appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, whose leadership continues to empower our operations,” he said.
Mr Abubakar assured that the service would intensify surveillance and deploy technological tools to combat wildlife trafficking effectively.
“It is our collective responsibility to protect these endangered species for future generations,” the NCS official added.
According to Mr Abubakar, the suspect will be charged in accordance with relevant national and international laws once the investigation is concluded.
(NAN)
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