Customs Service arrests shipper, supplier of illegal wildlife to Vietnam
The Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office has announced the arrest of a shipper and supplier responsible for the illegal exportation of a 40ft container of illegal Wildlife to Vietnam.
It was revealed that the illegal wildlife products were intercepted and reported in Vietnam in April 2024, while the arrest of the suspects was made by the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) and the enforcement officers of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone C, Owerri, Imo state.
A statement made available to newsmen disclosed that the arrest was made during a joint operation on the 17th of May, 2024.
Speaking on the seizure, the Customs Area Controller, FOU, Zone C, Compt. Mike Ugbagu, said the seizure was to reaffirm the commitment of the Service to support all global initiatives to fight wildlife crime in the country.
He said, “Apprehending these persons is to send a clear signal to other perpetrators of these illegal acts which are in contravention of the Customs export guidelines of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, and the Endangered Species Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that wildlife trafficking, illegal wildlife trade and any form of wildlife crime will not be condoned. This is also to reaffirm the Service’s commitment to support all global initiatives to fight wildlife crime in all its forms.”
Compt. Ugbagu stated further that Nigeria Customs and WJC partnership is strengthened and more determined than ever to dismantle the entire supply chain of illegal Wildlife criminal networks operating from Africa to Asia.
