The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
Customs FOU Zone’ B Intercept pangolin Scales Worth 3.9b In kebbi
By Prince Benson Davies
The Customs FOU Zone B, which comprises Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, and Kwara states, and the Federal Capital Command headquarters in Kaduna, said its operatives intercepted pangolin scales Duty paid value at N3.9bn on Wednesday in kebbe state
The Comptroller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B”, Ahmadu Bello-Shuaibu, who made the disclosure, said one arrest was made in connection with the smuggled pangolin scales.
Speaking to the comptroller, Ahmed Bello-Shuabu Said operatives of the Command, acting on intelligence information, stormed a suburb of Zuru Town in Kebbi State and discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales which weighed 445.45 kg on May 24.
He put the value of the seizure at the international market to about N4bn
The customs boss said the success of the operation lay in robust intelligence sharing between the service and the Wild Life Office, coupled with the determined efforts of operatives to carry out the arrest.
Shuaibu alleged that those involved in the illegal trafficking of endangered species were hiding under it to launder money used in procuring drugs, arms and other illegal merchandise.
He said, “Our operatives have upped the ante in the combat against smuggling of protected species and successfully intercepted a consignment of Pangolin scale and its derivatives within the Kebbi State area of the Zone.
“The team discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales, which were transported to the headquarters of FOU Zone ‘B’ in Kaduna. After careful examination and counting, the pangolin scales weighed 445.45 kg” Let me once again explain that the pangolin species is one of the endangered species that is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flaura.
“It is instructive that Nigeria is a signatory to the CITES Convention and all forms of trading in this species are illegal,” he added.
He added that the service was more than ever before determined to partner with CITES to forestall the pangolin and other endangered species from going into extinction.
He also reiterated the commitment and determination of the unit to continue to enforce federal Federal Government policies in line with international best practices while calling on the public to cooperate with the NCS in its fight against smuggling.
“He concluded saying that every citizen must work together to salvage this country and actualise the dream of our founding fathers.
