FOU B Customs.evacuates sacks of pangolin worth over N3 billion from ‘slaughter house’ hideout
FOU B Customs evacuates sacks of pangolin worth over N3 billion from 'slaughter house' hideout
Segun Oladipupo
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone B, Kaduna on Friday, 24th May, 2024 evacuated sacks of pangolin scores weighing 445.45kg from a hideout known as slaughter house around 4pm
In a statement t signed by the Controller of the Unit, Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shaibu, the unit acting on intelligence, discovered the hideout.
According to the statement, the value of the seized items 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.
It further sted that one suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure while the main suspect is currently at large.
The Controller said, “Let me once again explain 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).
“One (1) Suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure while the main suspect is currently at large. However, the Unit in collaboration with other sister agencies will not rest on its oars until the main suspect is arrested and brought to book.
“The offence contravene Section 55 (1) paragraph C and I of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Act 2023.
“However, the Unit in collaboration with other sister agencies will not rest on its oars until the main suspect is arrested and brought to book
“Recall that Nigeria is a signatory to the CITES Convention which is against all forms of trading in these species are illegal.”
The Controller insisted that Nigeria Customs Service would continue to partner CITES to forestall the identified species from going into extinction.
You may recall that during our recent briefing on May 21, 2024, we declared our resolve not to allow illegal trading in endangered wildlife species and other smuggling activities to thrive in the Zone.
Continuing, he added, “The success of this operation lies in 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.
“We wish to put it on record that the success of the operation is unique in that it was casualty free.
“From empirical evidence, 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.
“l wish to call on the general public to continue to cooperate and stand with the NCS on its fight against smuggling. We must work together to salvage this country and to actualize the dream of our founding fathers.
“May l at this juncture repeat 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
