Two Foreigners Jailed 2-years for Wildlife Trafficking, As Customs’ Convictions Rise to 11
Justice Yelim Bogoro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a native of Guinea, Mamoduo Barete, to two years imprisonment for trafficking and trading Pangolin Scales, a prohibited and Endangered wildlife species.
Mamoduo Barete’s conviction was secured by the Nigeria Customs Service on charges of conspiracy, trafficking and trading in Pangolin Scales, an offence contrary to and punishable by section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, 2004.
The sitting judge, Justice Yelim Bogoro, sentenced Barete to two years imprisonment or the option of paying a sum of N500,000 fine. He also said that the period spent with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Correctional Service shall be considered and recorded.
According to the Nigeria Customs Service, the convict is one of the suspects arrested in a joint operation with the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) in December 2022.
“NCS and WJC partnership is one that works, and they are committed to continue to work together to target these transnational organized crime networks.”
“The conviction has raised the Service’s convictions in illegal wildlife cases to no fewer than 11 between May and December 12, 2023. Tens of other wildlife trafficking suspects are standing trial in court,” according to a statement issued by the Nigeria Customs Service.
