CUSTOMS ARREST THREE FOR TRAFFICKING ELEPHANT TUSKS WORTH $16,000
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Three guys were reportedly arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service on Friday for allegedly smuggling elephant tusks into Asia.
Between January 25, 2024, and February 4 and 6, 2024, the men were arrested at different locations in Lagos for allegedly helping to facilitate the sale and shipment of five pieces of elephant tusk, each weighing 25.35 kg and valued at around $16,000 equivalent (N23,520,000).
Information surfaced that the arrest was made as part of a joint enforcement operation with the Wildlife Justice Commission, led by the Customs Police Unit and the Customs Special Wildlife Office.
Nigeria is working hard to stop wildlife traffickers from exploiting its rapidly declining elephant population. Illegal wildlife export violates both the Nigeria Customs Service Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Over the past three decades, the country’s elephant population has declined drastically from an estimated 1,500 to less than 400 due to poaching for ivory, habitat loss, and human-elephant conflict, according to conservationists.
The officer in charge of Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office, Assistant Comptroller Abim Isafiade said the Service is leaving no stone unturned in its commitment to end Illegal wildlife trade.
He said that on January 9, 2024, Nigeria destroyed 2.5 tonnes of seized elephant tusks valued at over N9.9bn ($11.2 million).
“The Service is determined to dismantle the wildlife criminal networks operating within the country.
“Illegal wildlife trade or trafficking of wildlife is a criminal offence punishable under law, and so Nigeria Customs Service will continue to support global efforts to fight Wildlife crime.
“The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” Isafiade said.
Experts say tens of thousands of elephants are killed worldwide each year for their tusks.
That is despite a decades-long ban on the international trade of ivory.
According to conservationists, Nigeria has become a hub for the illegal trade in animal parts from Africa. The biggest markets are said to be in Asia.
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