The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone ‘B’, has made a significant breakthrough in combating wildlife trafficking. In two separate operations, the customs intercepted a large number of live pangolins being transported illegally along the Kano-Jigawa Road.

Customs public affairs manager, Mohammad Usman Balarabe, in a statement on Thursday, indicated that the first interception occurred on March 12 and the second on March 26, 2026. On both occasions, the pangolins were found hidden in vehicles during routine patrols. These actions were part of the Unit's intensified efforts to curb the trafficking of wildlife.

The seizures were made under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, CITES, an international agreement Nigeria is a State Party. This agreement bans trade that threatens wild life survival.

Comptroller Aminu Sule emphasized the Unit's commitment to tackling wildlife crime, ordering a thorough investigation to dismantle the involved syndicates. He warned that Zone ‘B’ won't be a safe route for wildlife traffickers.

Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals, and the NCS is determined to enforce laws protecting Nigeria's biodiversity and meeting global conservation commitments. The intercepted animals are being held at the FOU Zone ‘B’ headquarters in Kaduna, awaiting handover to wildlife authorities.