The Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted 420 kilograms of pangolin scales in a suburb of Kano metropolis, dealing a major blow to the illegal wildlife trade.
Customs Area Controller, Abubakar Dalhat, disclosed this during a press briefing in Kano on Wednesday. He said the operation, which took place on July 16, was the result of coordinated intelligence and joint efforts between Customs operatives and partner security agencies.
Dalhat described the seizure as a significant milestone in the fight against illicit international trade in endangered species, particularly pangolins, which are highly trafficked for their scales used in traditional medicine and cosmetics.
“The seizure of these pangolin scales not only dismantles a vital link in the illegal supply chain but also sends a clear message to traffickers: Nigeria will not be a safe haven for wildlife crime,” Dalhat stated.
He emphasised that the Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to enforcing wildlife protection laws as enshrined in Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
“We are intensifying our surveillance and deploying modern technology to combat these crimes. Protecting endangered species is not just a legal duty but a moral obligation to future generations,” he added.
Dalhat thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for his strategic leadership and unwavering support. He also acknowledged the role of international partners, including the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office and Focused Conservation, in facilitating the operation.
Pangolins, which are protected under international conventions and Nigerian law, face extinction due to rampant poaching and trafficking.