Can Nigeria help save Banglain in the midst of global wildlife crimes crisis?

The demand for Bangoline in Asia, where the population of these scrub mammals diminished, pushing the travelers to Africa, the only continent that can be increasingly found in extinction animals.

It became Nigeria Pangoline Trader Center And other illegal trading of wildlife. But the authorities were floundering recently The arrest of a Chinese citizen Suspected Supporting the supply network In a market in Lagos this month. The latest investigation led to five other arrests and the seizure of 8,300 pounds of Banglain – estimated in Asia for its perceived medical value – of an estimated 1900 wet animals.

Michael Roy, head of regional customs, said that the investigation sends a “strong signal” that the customs service in Nigeria “will not retreat in its efforts to combat the crime of wildlife to a way to stop.”

Experts say the arrests are part of an enforcement boost that shows the growing concentration of Nigeria on the fight against animal trafficking, which pays its fruits.

The Nigerian Customs Department has arrested with intelligence from the Justice Wildlife Committee, an organization in the Netherlands that provides international law enforcement with evidence of wildlife smuggling rings. Chinese patriotism He was held in Lagos in February He was connected to about 16,000 pounds of Banglain scales that were seized in August after a six -month investigation.

“The process shows the value of the intelligence collection in the long term and international cooperation-it reflects a calculated effort to overcome low-level statues,” said Dr. Megan Natalie, a lawyer and legal advisor who specializes in the crime of wildlife.

She said that to disrupt the smuggling of global banoulin, investigators should focus on hunting senior workers and not only the only fishermen, who are often poor and low in the rolling pole of Tawam.

Trafficking in wildlife is The international industry is worth 20 billion dollarsAccording to Interpol. Protected Bangoline Trade is widely paid for the desire to stand Herbal medicine in China. But this is just a small part of the demand for exotic animals, living and death, all over the world.

Nigerian officers have been rescued recently 12 lively African gray parrotsAnd they are very protected and required types, by following two boxes that are not accompanied by a journey overnight earlier in April.

A traveler from Cameroon was arrested in late March in Nigeria with parrot heads, 29 bundles of parrot feathers, 128 African heads, five eagle heads and a package of eagle feathers, chief chiefs of chimpanzees and eight ends, according to Head of Regional CustomsGod is obsessed.

He said that this illegal trade in wildlife does not only undermine our biological diversity, but also nourishes the crime over patriotism and threatens economic stability and public safety. ” statement.

Nigeria signed the International Trade Agreement with endangered species in 1974, and the implementation of large -scale enforcement of the customs authority in the country. But the efforts of the authority were considered a long time “without teeth”, and it was “not ready or properly equipped”, ” Brother IssavidiA former officer there, written in Global Customs Organization Magazine last year.

This has changed with the establishment of a private wildlife office at the customs ceremony in 2021, which became a “new honest in the city”, focusing on illegal trafficking.

Since 2021, Nigerian officials have also joined Justice Wildlife Committee18 operations by supporting them, which caused more than 55,000 pounds of Banglain and 2,200 pounds of ivory, as well as 12 condemnation, including WJC CEO.

Nigeria’s efforts to shake its reputation as the center of wildlife trafficking achieved worthy of praise. Croford AlanCrime and Politics expert in wildlife in the world’s wildlife box.

He said that other countries are similarly stressing the implementation of implementation. In Vietnam, who has long faced criticism of its failure to reduce illegal trade in animal and endangered products, the authorities are trained in techniques to get rid of trapper and cooperate with their counterparts abroad, said Mr. Alan, who participated in training efforts.

this week, The authorities in Hong Kong He said that the smuggling of weak and endangered species, such as elephants, pangolin and its tenderness, “decreased significantly” after judicial prosecutions and penalties for wildlife trafficking increased in 2021.

Many of the global discussion of wildlife trafficking centers on Asia and Africa. But criminal rings provide consumers who want animals and endangered products in every part of the world, and there are transit centers everywhere.

Europe is important in “destination, crossing and origin for many” Protected speciesAccording to the European Commission.

Dr. Natalie said that the wildlife trafficking has become a profitable work for criminal rings, as the demand has increased, which sometimes competes with the drug trade. She pointed out that a kilo of a kilo of rhinoceros, or 2.2 pounds can sell up to 75,000 dollars, which “exceeds the value of cocaine now.”

Experts say that while there is some evidence of a decrease in trafficking in some wildlife products, such efforts cannot be made in a vacuum.

The United Nations last year indicated that “the large and powerful organized crime groups that operate in some of the most fragile and varied ecosystems from the Amazon to the Golden Triangle” in Southeast Asia, so attack the problem “requires a broader strategy to address organized crime.”