Operatives Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A Ikeja, Nigeria Customs Services have intercepted scales of endangered species of pangolin during a warehouse operation in Lagos.
The operatives led by an Assistant Comptroller Mutalib Sule was carried out on Monday March 5, 2018 at about 1600hrs based on credible intelligence leading to search of an apartment at No. 64 Opebi Road, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja Lagos where 329 sacks Of Pangolin Scales weighing 8,492kg with a duty paid value of N1,732,857,393.96 (One Billion, Seven Hundred and Thirty Two Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred And Ninety Three Naira, Ninety Six Kobo Only) were discovered, physical examined before they were evacuated.
A Chinese national, Mr. Li Chaomin was however arrested in connection to the seizure.
The arrest of Chaomin brought to two, the number of Chinese nationals in a roll in relations to goods banned for export.
It would be recalled that in February 55 sacks of the pangolin and 218 pieces of elephant tusks, were intercepted by the operatives of the NCS. The seized items were later handed over to NESREA.
Speaking on the interception and the arrests, Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A Ikeja, Comptroller Mohammed Uba told journalists that The Convention of International Trade in Endangered species (CITES 1973) entails that Customs Administration all over the world protects wild life by intercepting illegal trade on such animals.
Uba who noted that pangolins are the only known mammals that have large and protective keratin scales covering their skin, said “After a surge in poaching across Asia, the international illegal wildlife trade is now also a growing threat to African pangolin species. These scales were sourced from other African countries to be trafficked”.
He added, “The tragedy of the unsustainable demand for their body parts in the illegal wildlife trade, the better chance they have from being saved from extinction. It was based on that the World Pangolin Day was set side globally to talk about pangolins and to help spread awareness about one of the world’s most vulnerable but least-known species.” This year’s Pangolin Day was held February 17 to that effect.
Defending the invasion and searching of the warehouses in which the illegal items of trade were discovered, seized and evacuated, Uba cited relevant portion of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which empowers the teams to carry out their operations
“For the avoidance of doubt, our action is in-line with the provisions of Sections 147 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) Cap 45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (power to search premises),” the Customs boss submitted
