Major Wildlife Trafficker Arrested in Lagos Operation

Shamsideen Abubakar was apprehended during a joint enforcement operation involving the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NC). This operation, coordinated by the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), resulted in the seizure of 1,009.50 kilograms of pangolin scales in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

The operation also intercepted 1,620 endangered birds at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in August 2022. These birds, including ringneck parakeets and green-yellow front canaries, were being transported illegally to Kuwait without the necessary permits.

Nigeria has become notorious as a transit route for illegal wildlife trafficking, posing a significant threat to biodiversity. The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) emphasized that wildlife crime is often underestimated, linking it to serious crimes such as insurgency and banditry.

The seized wildlife will be handed over to the National Park Service to prevent re-entry into illegal trade, adhering to the Endangered Species Act of 2004.