The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Lagos has arrested two Chinese over attempt to smuggle out prohibited items on the export list consisting 678 pieces of Elephant tusks and eight sacks of Pangolin weighing over 381 kilogrammes.
The contraband was intercepted at the Export Shed of the airport.
It was learnt that the Chinese contravene Schedule 6 of the Nigerian Exports Prohibition List, which prescribes as illegal any attempt to export wild animals and endangered species.
According to the Customs Area of the command, Frank Nduka Allannah, the smugglers had been remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Customs at the Lagos Airport pending further investigation.
The impounded items consists scales of Pangolin, the most trafficked endangered animal that eats its own flesh.
Allannah stressed that the impounded items would be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
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.
The controller noted: “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.”
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