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FOU Zone 'B' Make Remarkable Seizure Of 445.45kg Of Pangolin Scale And Derivatives

By Anne Ejuka


Following the resolve of the Federal Operations Unit Zone 'B' Kaduna not to allow any illegal trading in endangered wildlife species and other smuggling activities to thrive in the Zone, the operatives has  intercepted 445.45kg of Pangolin scale and its derivatives.


The international market value of this seizure is, Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand Naira (#3,955,596,000.00) only.


This was revealed by the Customs Area Controller of the Zone, Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu yesterday, Wednesday, 5th June 2024 during a press briefing held at the Zone B headquarters in Kaduna.


Giving account of the seizures, Comptroller Shuibu said, "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; The team discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales which were transported to the HQ of FOU Zone 'B' in Kaduna. 


After careful examination and counting, the pangolin scales  weighed 445.45kg; "the value of this 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".


Giving reason for the seizure, the controller stated 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".  Comptroller Shuaibu reiterated.


The controller also stated that one (1) Suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure while the main suspect is currently at large. But promises that the Unit in collaboration with other sister agencies will not rest on its oars until the main suspect is arrested and brought to book. 



According to the Customs boss, this unique operation which was casualty free will not have been possible if not for the 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.


He further stated, "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".



While calling on the general public to continue to cooperate and stand with the NCS on its fight against smuggling to to actualize the dreams of the founding fathers, Shuaibu 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.



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