NCS arrests two over illegal possession of elephant tusks, pangolin scales
Story from Haruna YUSUF, Abuja
Two individuals have been convicted of unlawful possession of 839.4kg of Pangolin scales and 145kg of Elephant tusks by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The suspects, John Kanu, and Obinna Eze, were apprehended in February 2022 during a joint operation between the NCS and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC).
On May 17, 2023, the convicted individuals, along with Anthony Onyebuchi and Monday Nnamanni, appeared before Justice Nicholas Oweibo at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi.
They pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them by the Nigeria Customs Service and were sentenced to four years in prison for conspiracy and illicit possession of the contraband.
The NCS, in collaboration with the WJC, has been actively targeting illegal wildlife trade and trafficking networks operating between Asia and Africa.
This joint effort has achieved significant success in curbing such activities.
The NCS’s Special Wildlife Office expressed its commitment to putting an end to illegal wildlife trade and trafficking within Nigeria, emphasizing that the country will not tolerate being used as a transit point, destination, or source for such criminal operations.
By ensuring the effective prosecution and conviction of individuals involved in the unlawful possession of endangered animal parts, the authorities aim to deter and dismantle wildlife trafficking networks in Nigeria.
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