The Nigerian Customs Service has seized Pangolin scales, elephant tusks and bones from endangered species worth about N952 million and which were bound for export to Vietnam.

Area Comptroller, Mr Mohammed Abba-Kura said the items concealed in a container of furniture material were intercepted by Customs operatives at Apapa port in Lagos on January 21.

The Comptroller noted that the consignment which weighed 8,800 kilograms (19,400 pounds) was valued at 952 million ($2.5 million, 2.07 million euros) on the black market.

Speaking during a press briefing yesterday, Abba-Kura said the contrabands were in a 20-feet container with number CSLU 2362640, heading to Haiphong, Vietnam and that a suspect had been arrested over the shipment.

“Immediately the container was opened, logs were seen in front, and upon 100 percent physical examination of the container, elephant tusks and the pangolin scales were seen concealed by the logs.

“The items, falsely declared as furniture, comprised 162 sacks of pangolin scales… and 57 sacks of mixed endangered species of various sizes such as ivory, animal horns, lion bones and others.”