The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted sacks of elephant tusk and pangolin shell with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N493.5 million from a Chinese suspect, Mr Ko Sin Ying, in Lagos.
This is even as Mr Ko Sin Ying denied ownership of the said elephant tusk and pangolin shell, claiming Customs officials are trying to indict him for what he has not done.
Displaying the items at the FOU headquarters in Ikeja on Thursday, Comptroller Mohammed Uba Garba said the seizures comprised 55 sacks of pangolin shell weighing 2001kg and valued at N408.32 million, and 218 pieces of elephant tusk weighing 343kg and valued at N85.2 million.
According to Compt. Garba, the items were evacuated from an apartment on
No.38, Ogundana Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja by the Warehouse
Operations Team led by Assistant Comptroller Mutalib Sule.
He disclosed that the team, acting on intelligence received the previous day, had mounted surveillance on the area and on the tip-off, raided the apartment, where the gatekeeper confirmed the occupant to be a Chinese national, Mr Ko Sin Ying.
Garba noted that the export of such endangered species of animals like elephant and pangolin breaches international protocols and conventions, which means that the Customs have increased responsibility for its implementation.
According to him, “the United Nations chatter 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 Environment Standards and Regulatory Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for further investigations, adding that such collaboration would protect the natural habitat and the endangered species.
Meanwhile, Mr Ying, who spoke through an interpreter during the parade of the items before newsmen, denied knowledge and ownership of the items.
The suspect, whose lawyer, Mr Francis Obaseki, identified as Kio Sui-Ying, said that Customs men brought the items from another place to his residence at
No.2 Ondo Close, Ikeja, and started questioning him about them.