Customs Seizes Live Pangolins in Anti-Smuggling Operation; Issues Warning Against Wildlife Trafficking

By Stella Okocha

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’, In a decisive move to combat the continuous attempts on wildlife trafficking; intercepted two live pangolins being smuggled along the Kano–Jigawa axis.

According to the press statement issued on Monday, 16 March 2026, the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Assistant Superintendent of Customs II Mohammed Usman, on behalf of Comptroller of Customs, Aminu Sule, head of the Unit, stated that the arrest occurred on 12 March 2026 during a stop-and-search operation.

It states that Officers flagged down a suspicious vehicle during a routine enforcement sweep, uncovering endangered animals hidden inside. Each pangolin, a species listed among the most trafficked mammals globally, weighed approximately 15 kilograms.

According to him, the animals were immediately secured in specially designed cages and transported safely to the FOU Zone ‘B’ headquarters in Kaduna, ensuring their well-being. The head of the Unit, Comptroller Aminu Sule, who confirmed the seizure, had ordered a full-scale investigation to trace the source and intended destination of the pangolins.

He stressed that the seizure sends a firm warning to wildlife traffickers: “Zone ‘B’ will not serve as a transit point for illegal trade in endangered species.”

The statement noted that the operation aligns with the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international treaty that aims to protect vulnerable wildlife from extinction.

The seizure, according to the statement, highlights the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering commitment to enforcing environmental laws, safeguarding biodiversity, and shutting down illegal trade networks.