Nigerian Customs Reports World’s Largest Pangolin Scale Seizure Since 2020

In a major crackdown, harmful pharmaceuticals and smuggled rice are intercepted.

In addition to major seizures of illegal substances and smuggled grains, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported the greatest seizure of pangolin scales worldwide since 2020.

As part of the service’s continuing enforcement efforts, Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi revealed these advances during a press event on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at the Customs Training College in Lagos.

He claimed that service agents working with the Wildlife Justice Commission had seized the pangolin scales, which weighed more than 9,493 kg.

The CGC also reported that two 40-foot canisters of potentially hazardous medications were seized at the Apapa

He stated, “9,493 kg of pangolin scales were seized on August 8, 2024, as a consequence of a joint enforcement operation carried out by the Nigeria Customs Service and our primary partner, the Wildlife Justice Commission. Since January 2020, this operation—which was conducted in two different locations—represents the greatest pangolin scale seizure worldwide.

In addition to producing 2,293 kg of pangolin scales, the Kano/Kaduna operation resulted in two arrests. Two more people were arrested and 7.2 tons of pangolin scales were seized as a result of the Lagos operation. Four people were detained in relation to these operations: two in Lagos and two in Kano. With these seizures, the NCS and Wildlife Justice Commission have now intercepted almost 20 pangolin scales in total.

The CGC also reported that two 40-foot containers of potentially hazardous medications were seized at the Apapa Port Command. “Alarmingly, 200 of these bottles were found to be expired, posing a significant public risk.”

The Nigeria Customs Service documented 48 seizures of banned medications and pharmaceuticals between May 2023 and August 2024. We also stopped 119 shipments of drugs and Indian hemp during that time.

Regarding rice smuggling, the CGC reported that officers from the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, had seized 7,155 bags of 50 kg foreign parboiled rice in total, and that the Joint Border Patrol Team Sector II in the Southwest had recently seized 3,235 bags along the Erekiti waterside, Seme Road, and Ogun State border areas.

According to him, JBPT Sector II carried out effective operations from September 12 to October 14, 2024, leading to 1.1 billion Naira in various seizures.

“The NCS, in cooperation with other security agencies, is more determined than ever to bring the full weight of the law upon you,” he warned those who continue their evil deeds.

“We are consistently improving our technology infrastructure, bolstering our partnerships both domestically and abroad, and improving our intelligence-gathering capabilities. Your days of getting away with it are coming to an end.

He gave respectable businessmen and law-abiding individuals his word that the service will support legal trade and safeguard Nigeria’s economy.