Customs seizes pangolin scales valued at N432m in Bauchi
By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
The Federal Operations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Zone ‘D’, Bauchi, has disclosed that it seized five sacks of Pangolin Scales with a Duty Paid Value of N432 million.
The Public Relations Officer, FOU, Umar Abdullahi who stated this while briefing journalists at the Zone ‘D’ Headquarters, Bauchi on achievements of the Service, said that the total contraband weighed 216 kilogrammes.
He said that the seized goods contravene section 63 of the Customs and Excise Management Act CAP 45 Laws of Nigeria.
“Acting on credible intelligence the Controller, FOU Zone ‘D’ Bauchi, DC JO Adelaja, deployed a Team that raided a makeshift shop at a Motor Park along Sangere-Yola Axis Adamawa State on Thursday 11th May 2023 and evacuated Four (4) sacks and small One (1) sack of Pangolin scales.
“The evacuated sacks of Pangolin scales were weighed to be a total of 216 Kg with a total duty paid value of Four hundred and Thirty Two Million Naira (N432,000,000). These seized items contravened provision of section 63 of Customs and Excise Management Act CAP 45 Laws of the Federal Government of Nigeria 2004”.
“It is important for the public to understand that illegal wildlife trade is contrary to the provisions of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) especially items on appendix I where Pangolin falls under.”
“Unprecedented seizure was achieved as a result of sharing of information, intelligence gathering and doggedness of the Officers/Men of the Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘D’ in making the Zone unbearable for smugglers.
“Let me use this medium to plead with well-meaning Nigerians to assist in providing genuine information that could aid in eradicating the menace of smuggling in the zone and the country at large. I want them to know that eradicating smuggling in this country will boost the economy which will make the Federal Government provide social amenities to the citizenry,” he said.
Abdullahi warned smugglers to leave their nefarious activities and get a better job vowing that, “The officers and men of the FOU Zone ‘D’ of the Nigerian Custom Service, under the leadership of the Comptroller, DC JO Adelaja, will not rest on their oars but will ensure that we make this zone unbearable for them.”
