Customs Intercepts N10bn Pangolin Scales in Six Months

ABIOLA Seun |

The Federal Operations Unit, (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has raised global awareness by recording the highest seizure of pangolin scales and elephant tusk in the world worth N10billion in six months.

A worldwide ban on trade in pangolins was unanimously agreed to at a meeting of the 181 nations including Nigeria of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in September 2016.

Prior to the ban, China legally imported some pangolin scales, mainly from Africa, for use in traditional Chinese medicine and the pharmaceutical industry.

However, to enforce the world ban on the endangered animal, the officers in the warehouse section of the FOU zone A service have made interceptions of pangolin at different locations in Lagos.

The Customs Area Controller of the unit, Comptroller Mohammed Uba in a recent press briefing commended the warehouse operation team under the leadership of Assistant Controller Mutalib Sule who had made smuggling of pangolin and elephant tusk out of the country a tough and impossible one for Chinese nationals involved in the illegal trade.

Also, maritime stakeholders have called for commendation and DSS promotion by the Comptroller General of the service, Col. Hameed Ali for the officers who had made the country with their recent seizures.

According to the source, the warehouse Operation team on the 14th of February evacuated Elephant tusk and pangolin scales worth N2.3bn at a warehouse at Ikeja while on the 6th of March, another pangolin scale was intercepted by the same team at Opebi, Ikeja.

In another operation on March 9th, at another warehouse in Opebi the warehouse operation team once again intercepted N1.5bn pangolin scales while on the 1st of August, 21 sacks of pangolin and four pieces of elephant tusks estimated at N1.5billion were intercepted at Oba Elegushi International market, Ajah.

However, the source who pleaded anonymity because she wasn’t authorised to speak to the press said that of the four operations carried out by the Mutalib led warehouse officers, Chinese are behind the illegal possession and alleged exportation of pangolin scales in Nigeria.

She also disclosed that they have been charged to court and have been granted bail by the court of law.

She said, “Since the ban on trading on pangolin, Nigeria has made the largest seizure of pangolin scales in the world with 13,203kg followed by Japan 7,000kg and all interceptions were done by the warehouse operations team led by Mutalib and assisted by SC Isah Adamu.”

“The seizure has raised global awareness for Nigeria zero tolerance for the exportation of the endangered species that the United Nation has indicated interest to kit Nigeria Customs for effective performance of their jobs.

“The team has been able to enforce the international convention that no trade of pangolin in any domestic or international market because the animal is considered as endangered specie and the scales cannot be got without making the animal extinct.”

Speaking to journalists on the interception, a clearing agent, Adegbite Babajide commended the FOU, Zone A and the warehouse officers who made the interceptions.

Adegbite said the warehouse officers have saved Nigerian what could have been an embarrassment in the international community.

He said, “The warehouse Operation team should be appreciated for putting Nigeria in a world map in a positive way. They may have decided to take bribe and allow the Chinese export the contraband but they remained selfless and patriotic to the country by arresting the Chinese and evacuating the contraband. “

He however suggested that the Comptroller General should give them accelerated promotion and commendation letter for their exploit.

“Giving them accelerated promotion and commendation letter personally signed by the Customs CG, Col. Hameed Ali is not out of place. Government celebrates good deeds and condemns bad deeds. These officers have shown to be patriotic in the face of temptation so they should be celebrated,” Adegbite advises Customs CG.