Demand for pangolins in Asia, where populations of these scaly mammals have dwindled, has driven traffickers to Africa, the only other continent where the increasingly endangered animals can be found.
Nigeria has become a hub for pangolin trafficking and other illegal wildlife trading. Authorities have intensified efforts, recently arresting a Chinese national suspected of being a high-level pangolin trafficker and targeting a supply network in a Lagos market. This investigation led to five additional arrests and the seizure of 8,300 pounds of pangolin scales—valued in Asia for their perceived medicinal properties—from approximately 1,900 slaughtered animals.
Michael Awe, the regional customs chief, stated that the investigation sends “a strong signal” that the Nigeria Customs Service “will not relent in its efforts in fighting wildlife crime to a standstill.”
The arrests are part of an enforcement initiative that indicates Nigeria’s growing focus on combating animal trafficking, according to experts.
Nigeria’s Customs Service conducted the arrests with intelligence from the Wildlife Justice Commission, a Netherlands-based organization that provides evidence on global wildlife trafficking rings. The detained Chinese national in Lagos was linked to nearly 16,000 pounds of pangolin scales seized in August following a six-month investigation.
Dr. Meganne Natali, a lawyer and legal consultant specializing in wildlife crime, noted that the operation demonstrates the importance of long-term intelligence gathering and international cooperation, reflecting a strategic effort to target high-level traffickers rather than just low-level poachers.
Wildlife trafficking is a $20 billion international industry, according to Interpol. The trade in protected pangolins is largely driven by the desire for their scales in herbal medicine in China, representing only a small fraction of the global demand for exotic animals.
Recent efforts by Nigerian officers resulted in the rescue of 12 live African gray parrots, a protected species, after following two suspicious unaccompanied boxes on an overnight bus in April. Another traveler was apprehended in late March with a large quantity of illegal wildlife products, including parrot heads and chimpanzee remains.
Chukwudi Ogbonna, a regional customs chief, stated, “This illegal wildlife trade not only undermines our biodiversity but also fuels transnational crime, threatening economic stability and public safety.”
Nigeria signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in 1974, with enforcement primarily resting on the customs authority. Past efforts were often viewed as ineffective, but the establishment of the Special Wildlife Office in 2021 has improved enforcement against illegal trafficking.
Since its inception, Nigerian officials have executed 18 joint operations, resulting in the seizure of over 55,000 pounds of pangolin scales and 2,200 pounds of ivory, leading to 12 convictions of traffickers, including a Vietnamese kingpin.
Crawford Allan, a wildlife crime and policy expert, emphasized that Nigeria’s commitment to reducing its reputation as a wildlife trafficking hub has yielded positive results. Similar enforcement improvements are occurring in other countries, including Vietnam, where authorities are receiving training to combat trafficking.
Recent reports from Hong Kong indicated a significant drop in smuggling of vulnerable species, attributed to increased prosecutions and penalties since 2021.
Although much of the discourse on wildlife trafficking focuses on Asia and Africa, criminal organizations are active worldwide, supplying consumers seeking endangered and protected animals and products. Europe serves as a key destination, transit, and origin point for many protected species.
Dr. Natali remarked that wildlife trafficking has become a highly lucrative business for criminal rings, with demand sometimes rivaling that of the drug trade. The value of rhinoceros horns can reach $75,000 per kilogram, surpassing current cocaine prices.
While some evidence suggests a reduction in trafficking of certain wildlife products, experts caution that efforts must be part of a broader strategy to address organized crime, as highlighted by the United Nations in its recognition of the influence of large crime groups operating in fragile ecosystems worldwide.