Cross River Customs Intercept Elephant Tusks Worth N300m

52 elephant tusks have been seized by the Nigeria Customs Service at Mfum, a border town in the Ikom Local Government Area of the state of Cross River.

This was announced on Monday, February 12 during a press conference in Calabar by Ahmed Waziri, the NIS’s Area Comptroller for the Cross River/CFTZ/Akwa Ibom Command.

Waziri stated that the 200 kilogramme tusks were worth at N300 million and that the arrest was conducted by NIS agents on Thursday, February 8.

Waziri claimed that Mohammed Ibrahim, a Cameroonian, was arrested along with the things and that he was allegedly travelling to Lagos to deliver the items to another site when he was caught.

The suspect was charged with having a speciality in the cross-border export of tusks.

The Comptroller said that a Honda SUV truck bearing the licence plate FST 733 HH was used to capture the suspect.

He added that inside the truck was also found a handgun loaded with live rounds.

“The suspect has two Nigeria number plates (Lagos): FST 733 HH and (CMR) LT 214 AY. A service pistol was discovered inside the vehicle with live ammunition.

“This arrest should be a warning that Nigeria will not be used as a transit route for illicit products.

“They should also know that Nigeria is a signatory to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), an international agreement between governments.

“It is important our border communities wake up and live up to their responsibilities because many of such items pass through their domain in most cases without their knowledge,” he said.

“The communities have a role to play, as security is everybody’s business, so we must be vigilant.

“The suspect carried those items from Cameroon using Nigeria as a transit route probably to his final destination

“The suspect is with us, and the goods are at the government warehouse.

“I want to commend my eagle-eyed officers at Mfum for being able to intercept those items worth over N300 million and also apprehending the suspect.

“Our legal unit is already on the matter, and he will be charged to court immidiately we complete our investigations.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli