ABUJA: The Nigerian Customs Service has intercepted 678 pieces of elephant tusks and 381kg of pangolin being smuggled out of the country by some Chinese citizens at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The airport Customs command said it arrested two Chinese nationals over the attempt to smuggle out the prohibited items. According to the Customs, the attempt by the Chinese nationals contravenes Schedule 6 of the Nigerian Exports Prohibition List, which prescribes as illegal any attempt to export wild animals and endangered species.
The Customs Area Comptroller of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Mr Frank Nduka Allannah said the suspects have been remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Customs at the Lagos Airport pending further investigation.
The impounded items consist of scales of Pangolin , the most trafficked endangered animal that eats it own flesh was meant for export where it would have been used for Chinese medicine.
According to Allannah, the impounded items will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency ( NESREA).
Allannah said eagled-eyed Customs officials at the Export Shed of the MMIA, intercepted the prohibited items while they were being taken out of the country by the Chinese who claimed ownership of the items.
He said upon physical examination of prohibited item, the Chinese were subsequently arrested and are still being held in custody. He said the Elephant tusks were in two compartments of 387 unprocessed pieces , while 271 had been processed into combs and hand bangles.
The Customs boss, however, did not give the street value of the prohibited items, saying Customs personnel in the relevant units were already carrying out the monetary assessment to ascertain the value.
“We do not intend to give the names of the Chinese nationals yet. They have been arrested and are in Customs custody. They will be handed over to the relevant security agencies.
“The prohibited items will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency for further action on the prohibited item,” he said.
