Customs seize three live pangolins in Ogun

The Nigeria Customs Service in Ogun State has seized three live pangolins that were concealed in sacks by suspected smugglers. According to the Daily Post Nigeria, the interception occurred at Abeokuta waterside, and the pangolins were found tightly bound in wire mesh cages and hidden in sacks.

The suspected smugglers fled upon sighting Customs operatives. The Ag. Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Command, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim, handed over the rescued pangolins to Green Finger Wildlife Conservation for rehabilitation and eventual release into a protected habitat.

Pangolins are listed as endangered species under Nigerian law and are protected by the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, as per the Daily Post Nigeria. Trafficking attracts severe penalties, with offenders risking fines of up to N12 million and prison terms of up to 10 years under the recently passed Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Daily Post Nigeria — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.