The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, discovered sacks of elephant tusks and pangolin shells with a combined duty paid value of N493.5m at the resident of a Chinese man in Lagos State Nigeria.
The Chinaese man idenrified as Mr Ko Sin Yinh, was arrested by the unit in connection of the items found with him, he was brought inn for further questioning.
Displaying the items at the FOU headquarters in Ikeja on Thursday, the Controller, NCS, FOU, Mohammed Garba, said the seizures comprised 55 sacks of pangolin shells weighing 2,001 kilogrammes and valued at N408.32m and 218 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 343kg and valued at N85.2m.
According to Garba, the items were removed from an apartment on Ogundana Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, by the Warehouse Operations Team led by Assistant Comptroller Mutalib Sule.
Garba noted that the export of endangered species of animals like elephant and pangolin breached international protocols and conventions and that the Customs had increased responsibility for its implementation.
He said, “The United Nations charter on the preservation of endangered species entails that Customs administrations globally protect wildlife by intercepting illegal trade on such animals.
“It further prevents the killings of endangered species since the tusks are only available after the killing of the elephant or pangolin.”
He said the items would be handed over to the Nigerian Environmental Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency for further investigations.
Meanwhile, Ying, who spoke through an interpreter, denied knowledge and ownership of the items.
The suspect, whose lawyer, Mr. Francis Obaseki, identified as Kio Sui-Ying, said Customs men brought the items from another place to his residence on Ondo Close, Ikeja, and started questioning him about them
