The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has busted a Wildlife Trafficking Network with the arrest of a notorious trafficker in possession of 9,493 kg of pangolin scales believed to be about 7.2 tons.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, stated this on Friday in a statement made available to journalists in Minna, Niger state capital.
He said, “7.2 tons of pangolin scales—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 explained that the service acted on intelligence from the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) which identified the owner of the illegal wildlife products as Zheng Chao Hong, also known as Zheng Gao Peng, a high-level Chinese wildlife trafficker.
He said part of efforts to crack down on wildlife trafficking in the country, adding that NCS has confiscated 9,493 kg of pangolin scales during raids conducted in Ogun and Kano states
He explained that Zheng was not present at the warehouse during the raid, but two of his employees were arrested on the spot, but was declared wanted by the NCS.
“On February 19, 2025, a joint operation between NCS officers and the WJC team, the notorious Zheng was apprehended in Ikeja and currently being prosecuted. The arrest of Zheng has sent a strong message to the global community that Nigeria Customs Service is fully committed to proactive investigations, dismantling wildlife trafficking networks, including their financiers in the country,” he said.
