Nigeria Customs Service Cracks Down on Wildlife Trafficking Network, Arrests Notorious Trafficker
From Our Correspondent
In an effort to combat wildlife trafficking in the country, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has confiscated 9,493 kg of pangolin scales during raids conducted in Ogun and Kano states.
The Comptroller General of the NCS, B.A. Adeniyi, emphasized the agency’s recent enforcement successes in Nigeria.
He stated that this achievement represents a significant wildlife seizure made by vigilant NCS officers who acted on intelligence from the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) on August 8, 2024.
During the operation in Ogun State, 7.2 tons of pangolin scales—packed and ready for export—were seized, marking the largest seizure of pangolin scales globally since January 2020.
Adeniyi pointed out that intelligence from the WJC identified the owner of the illegal wildlife products as Zheng Chao Hong, also known as Zheng Gao Peng, a high-level Chinese wildlife trafficker.
Although Zheng was not present at the warehouse during the raid, two of his employees were arrested at the scene, and Zheng was subsequently declared wanted by the NCS.
On February 19, 2025, a joint operation involving NCS officers and the WJC team led to the apprehension of the notorious Zheng in Ikeja, and he is currently facing prosecution.
The Comptroller General noted that Zheng’s arrest has sent a strong message to the global community: that the Nigeria Customs Service is fully committed to proactive investigations and the dismantling of wildlife trafficking networks, including their financiers within the country.
