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1.7 billion naira worth of pangolin scales intercepted by Nigeria Customs

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The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) announced on Monday that it had intercepted illegal wildlife trade of pangolin scales worth over 1.7 billion naira.

Following credible intelligence from the Wildlife Justice Commission, an international partner, the Nigeria Customs Service had swiftly deployed its operatives to action to intercept the illegal wildlife goods.

While addressing journalists on Monday, the public relations officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, DC Joseph Attah, mentioned that this happened barely two months after a similar interception was made after receipt of information from the same international partner.

He said that two suspects named Salif Sanwidi and Sunday Ebenyi were arrested with the pangolin scales and claws weighing over 1,014.5kg in a bus in Ikeja, Lagos. He also mentioned that the pangolin scales will be subjected to DNA tests in order to determine the country they originated from.

According to him, although Nigerians are involved in the illegal trade, their involvement is limited to providing storage for the items in exchange for money while some foreigners, mostly Asians, are the real buyers and merely use Nigeria as a transit route for the illegal goods.

He further said that Nigeria is a signatory to the convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the Nigeria Customs Service is therefore committed to ensuring that the country is not used as a conduit pipe for illegal wildlife trade. He also encouraged non-signatory countries to join in the cause.

He applauded and expressed his gratitude to the Wildlife Justice Commission for their unwavering commitment to the cause shown through the provision of technical aids and credible intelligence.

 

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