Nigeria Customs Arrests High-Profile Chinese Wildlife Trafficker Linked to Major Pangolin Seizure

In a decisive victory against transnational wildlife crime, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested a high-level Chinese wildlife trafficker in Lagos. This operation, carried out on February 19, 2025, was based on intelligence provided by the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) and represents a major disruption to illegal wildlife trafficking between Nigeria and Asia.

A Landmark Seizure That Led to Arrest

The arrest is directly linked to a historic pangolin scale seizure in Ogun, Nigeria. In August 2024, following intelligence from WJC, Nigerian authorities raided a warehouse and uncovered a record-breaking 7.2 tonnes of pangolin scales—the largest WJC-supported seizure to date.

The operation took place in two phases:

• August 8, 2024 – Initial seizure of 31 bags of pangolin scales

• August 10, 2024 – Additional 148 bags discovered, bringing the total haul to 7.2 tonnes

Intelligence gathered from the warehouse raid identified a high-ranking Chinese trafficker as the owner of the illegal stockpile. After six months of tracking and investigation, the suspect was apprehended in Lagos.

Milestone in the Fight Against Illegal Wildlife Trade

This arrest marks two critical milestones in Nigeria’s wildlife crime enforcement efforts:

• The first Chinese wildlife trafficking suspect arrested in Nigeria through a WJC-supported operation

• The second suspected kingpin taken down through WJC collaboration

Strengthening Global Partnerships Against Wildlife Crime

Since July 2021, the Wildlife Justice Commission has worked closely with the Nigeria Customs Service to provide intelligence analysis, investigative support, and evidentiary assistance. This partnership has achieved significant results:

• 17 joint operations

• 37 arrests

• 21.5 tonnes of pangolin scales and over 1 tonne of ivory seized

• 12 successful convictions, including a Vietnamese wildlife trafficking kingpin and two high-level shipping facilitators behind major criminal networks

Notably, no significant African pangolin scale seizures have been reported at global seaports for over three years—clear evidence of a major disruption in transnational trafficking routes.

Cracking Down on Organised Wildlife Crime

Olivia Swaak-Goldman, Executive Director of WJC, emphasized the significance of this operation:

“This arrest sets a gold standard in tackling wildlife crime at the highest level. Nigeria Customs’ swift action, guided by our intelligence, highlights the power of proactive law enforcement. By dismantling criminal networks from the top down, we can prevent transnational organised crime from driving species to extinction.”

A Major Setback for Wildlife Traffickers

The seizure of 7.2 tonnes of pangolin scales delivered a major financial blow to the trafficking network, with an estimated black-market value exceeding USD 1.4 million in Asia. The arrest of the trafficker is expected to disrupt Nigeria-based crime syndicates and further deter illegal wildlife trade operations.

This success underscores the growing risks for wildlife traffickers and reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to dismantling organised crime networks. The Wildlife Justice Commission remains dedicated to supporting law enforcement worldwide to hold traffickers accountable and end the illegal wildlife trade.