Tons of Pangolin Scales from Cameroon seized in Hong-kong

Chinese national arrested at Nsimalen airport with pangolin scales

By a correspondent in Yaounde
Hong Kong Custom officials on June 11, 2014 seized over 2 tons of pangolin scales which reports say was from Cameroon and was heading to Malaysia. The pangolin scales weighing 2, 340 kg were concealed in 115 bags deceivingly labeled as timber sources say. A Malaysian business man was arrested over the illegal product but released on bail with further investigations pending. Another seizure of 1 ton of pangolin scales from Africa, carried out on May 28 in Hong Kong is suspected to be connected to the same smuggling ring and some conservationists are calling on investigations into the smuggling of pangolin scales on the side of the countries of origin.
    In 2006, a big haul of ivory weighing 3.9 tons were seized in Hong Kong and it was discovered that the ivory was shipped from Cameroon’s port city Douala. Investigations carried out in the country proved very successful in unraveling the matter and the government of Cameroon was awarded the Interpol Eco-message award for its expertise.

The seizure of such huge quantities of pangolin scales in Hong Kong confirms recent trends and seizures carried out under the framework of the wildlife law enforcement program launched by the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife. Under this program numerous cases involving dealers trying to smuggle giant pangolin scales have been recorded. The cases involve both Cameroons and Chinese nationals.
    The most recent involves a woman who was arrested on Monday the 14th of April 2014 during a law enforcement operation carried out by the Centre Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife. The woman was arrested for trying to sell giant pangolin scales and 4 bags full of scales were found in her possession. In April 2013, a Chinese national was arrested in Limbe at the Bota Wharf and he was found in possession of 7 bags of giant pangolin scales on board a boat that was heading to Nigeria but the final destination of the pangolin scales was probably the Asian countries of China and Vietnam that are accused of fanning the international illegal trade in pangolin scales. The same Chinese man was connected to the seizure of over 160 kg of pangolin scales in the month of March 2013 at the Douala international airport. He was sentenced to jail on the 25th of September 2013 by the Limbe Court of First Instance and spent 6 months at the Buea Central Prison.
    Another Chinese national was arrested on September 17, 2013 at the Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport for smuggling of giant pangolin scales. The 41-year old man travelled from Equatorial Guinea and was about to board a Kenya Airways flight to China via Nairobi when he was found in possession of 13 kg of giant pangolin scales.
    These seizures explain why big quantities leaving Cameroon are discovered in the countries of destination such as China, Malaysia and some other Asian countries. It equally sheds light on the scale of the illegal pangolin scale trade that is decimating a previously little known wildlife species to extinction. If efforts at wildlife law enforcement are not immediately and significantly stepped to protect the animal, by the time the scaly anteater shall fully make headline news, it would be for its extinction. Hopefully the seizure in Hong Kong can serve as a wakeup call to all stakeholders involve in the protection of the pangolin in the country. Giant pangolins are listed in class A according to the list of classification of wildlife species in the country. This classification is enough evidence of the vulnerability of the animal.