Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested Chinese wildlife traffickers in possession of 9,493 kg of pangolin scales during operations carried in Ogun and Kano states respectively.
This was contained in press statement issued out by the agency in Minna by its Comptroller General, B.A. Adeniyi.
He said 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 revealed 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 disclosed 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 statement further said that the arrest of Zheng has sent a strong message to the global community that the Nigeria Customs Service is fully committed to proactive investigations and dismantling wildlife trafficking networks, including their financiers, in the country.