By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the largest seizure of pangolin scales globally since 2020, alongside significant seizures of illicit drugs and smuggled rice, among others.
Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) disclosed these developments at a press briefing held at the Customs Training College in Lagos on Wednesday as part of the service’s ongoing enforcement activities.
According to him, the pangolin scales, weighing over 9,493 kg, were intercepted by officers of the service in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission.
He said, “On 8 August 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with our main partner, the Wildlife Justice Commission, conducted a joint enforcement operation resulting in the seizure of 9,493 kg of pangolin scales. This operation, carried out in two separate locations, represents the largest seizure of pangolin scales globally since January 2020.”
“The Kano/Kaduna operation yielded 2,293 kg of pangolin scales and led to two arrests. The Lagos operation resulted in the seizure of 7.2 tonnes of pangolin scales and two additional arrests. A total of 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,” Adeniyi explained.
In another operation, the CGC highlighted the seizure of two 40ft containers of potentially harmful pharmaceuticals at the Apapa Port Command.
“Alarmingly, 200 of these bottles were found to be expired, posing a significant public risk.”
“Between May 2023 and August 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service recorded 48 seizures of restricted pharmaceuticals and medicaments. During the same period, we also intercepted 119 shipments of narcotics and Indian hemp.”
“On rice smuggling, the CGC disclosed that a total of 7,155 bags of 50 kg foreign parboiled rice were seized by officers of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, and 3,235 bags were recently confiscated along the Erekiti waterside, Seme Road, and Ogun State border areas by the Joint Border Patrol Team Sector II in the Southwest Zone.
He said the JBPT Sector II conducted successful operations between 12 September and 14 October 2024, resulting in various seizures valued at 1.1 billion Naira.
“He warned those who persist in nefarious activities that, “the NCS, in collaboration with other security agencies, is more determined than ever to bring the full weight of the law upon you.
“We are continuously enhancing intelligence-gathering capabilities, upgrading our technological infrastructure, and strengthening our partnerships both domestically and internationally. Your days of operating with impunity are numbered.”
“He assured law-abiding citizens and legitimate traders of the service’s commitment to facilitating lawful trade and protecting Nigeria’s economy.”