Adewale Adeniyi, the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says the agency’s operatives have seized 9,493 kg of pangolin scales in Lagos and Kano.
The customs boss added that four suspects were arrested concerning the seizure in Lagos and Kano.
“The Kano/Kaduna operation yielded 2,293 kg of pangolin scales, leading to two arrests,” he said.
“The Lagos operation resulted in the seizure of 7.2 tonnes of pangolin scales and two additional arrests.
‘Four persons were arrested in connection with these operations: two in Kano and two in Lagos.
“These seizures bring the total amount of pangolin scales intercepted by the NCS and the Wildlife Justice Commission to nearly 20 tonnes since 2021, representing the loss of over 30,000 pangolins.
“The cumulative total of 9.493 tons of pangolin scales seized in a single day marks a milestone in Nigeria’s fight against wildlife crime and represents the largest pangolin scale seizure in one day worldwide since January 2020.”
He added that the operation that led to the seizure was at “targeted criminal syndicates involved in the international trade of pangolin scales”.
Pangolins are the only mammals in the world covered in scales, and their scales are made of keratin, the same material as fingernails and toenails.
They are considered the most trafficked mammals.
Abim Isafiade, the national coordinator of Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office, said the agency will not relent on its effort to support the global community in everything it takes to fight wildlife crime.
“Enforcement is just a part of the process, we will equally ensure that perpetrators face the full wrath of the law,” Isafiade said.