From John Adams, Minna
In what could be described as a major breakthrough in its war against trafficking in humans and animals, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confiscated 9,493 kg of pangolin scales during major raids conducted in Ogun and Kano states recently.
The Nigeria Customs Service, in a statement in Minna, quoted the Comptroller General, B.A. Adeniyi, as saying that the seizure was one of the agency’s recent enforcement successes across the country.
The statement further added that the achievement was a major wildlife seizure made by eagle-eyed officers of the Customs Service as it intensified efforts towards a total crackdown on smugglers in the country.
According to him, the seizure followed intelligence from the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC). The Comptroller General disclosed that 7.2 tonnes of pangolin scales, neatly packed and ready for export, were seized during the Ogun State operation, and this is said to be the largest seizure of pangolin scales globally since January 2020.
He pointed out that intelligence from the WJC identified the owner of the illegal wildlife products as Zheng Chao Hong, also known as Zheng Gao Peng, a high-level Chinese wildlife trafficker.
Adeniyi revealed that Zheng was not present at the warehouse during the raid, but two of his employees were arrested on the spot, and he was declared wanted by the NCS.
The statement added that on February 19, 2025, in a joint operation between NCS officers and the WJC team, the notorious Zheng was apprehended in Ikeja and is currently being prosecuted.
The CG noted that the arrest of Zheng has sent a strong message to the global community that the Nigeria Customs Service is fully committed to proactive iinvestigations nd dismantling wildlife trafficking networks, including their financiers, in the country.