June 05, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘D’, Bauchi, has intercepted contraband Pangolin scales weighing 216 kilogrammes with a Duty Paid Value of N432 million.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Zone, Umar Abdullahi, confirmed the development to newsmen in Bauchi, on Monday.
“The Comptroller, FOU Zone ‘D’ Bauchi, Mr Joseph Adelaja, acting on credible intelligence, deployed operatives who raided a makeshift shop at a motor park along Sangere-Yola axis in Adamawa State on May 11, and evacuated four sacks and one small sack of Pangolin scales.
“The evacuated sacks of Pangolin scales were weighed to be a total of 216 Kgs with a total Duty Paid Value of N432,000,000″, he said.
Abdullahi said illegal wildlife trade was contrary to the provisions of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna, especially items where pangolins fall under.
He also said the act contravenes section 63 of the Customs and Excise Management Act CAP 45 Laws of Nigeria.
“Let me use this medium to plead with well-meaning Nigerians to assist in providing genuine information that can 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 in the long run will enable the Federal Government to provide social amenities for the citizenry.
“The officers and men of the FOU Zone ‘D’ of the Nigerian Customs Service, under the leadership of Adelaja, will not rest on their oars”, he said.
