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| 5 tons of pangolin scales seized in Douala |
Wildlife officials made one of the biggest
ever seizures of pangolin scales in the Central African sub-region on
January 3, 2017, taking hold of over five tons of pangolin scales and
two Chinese traffickers. Following information they received on wildlife
trafficking concerning a Douala-based company run by some Chinese nationals, a
crackdown operation was carried and two solidly sealed containers were cut open
to reveal close to 300 boxes filled with pangolin scales. The operation was
carried out by the Littoral Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife with
the collaboration of the Judiciary and the police in Douala. The Last Great Ape
Organisation (LAGA) provided technical assistance during the operation.
The
arresting team spent several hours trying to break them open the containers and
the services of a welder was required. When they finally succeeded they
revealed iron boxes which were welded into frames and covered with lead to
disguise them when passed through scanners at the ports. The two Chinese
initially resisted allowing officials inspect the premises despite the
presentation of a search warrant. The two managers claimed the containers had
broken machines which were about to be exported to China for repairs.
One
of the managers looked more worried, kept smoking cigarettes for long hours as
he tried several diversionary tactics to sway wildlife officials from breaking
open the containers until two pieces of pangolin scales were found in the area.
Rachelle Tchasso, a forestry engineer who was part of the team explains “When
we got to the place, despite the resistance of the Chinese we found the hidden
containers. We also found two pangolin
scales lying on the floor despite the fact that the area was cleanly swept”.
According
to sources close to the operation, the containers had been packed ready for
shipment out of the country since a month ago and formalities were being
carried out by the traffickers to ensure smooth passage at the ports. The
arrest highlights the seriousness of pangolin scales trafficking and the role
played by Chinese nationals in the illegal export of wildlife species from the
country. Tchasso remarked “it must be a long and dense chain of traffickers
putting together this huge quantity and we have found out that there is huge
pressure on this species that has been reclassified”. Chinese are part of the
problem she says “when they want to do trafficking they go around with
suitcases [of money].”
The development of pangolin scales
trafficking has been very rapid over the last few years as a growing number of
seizures seem to indicate a troubling trend for the species. In June last year
over 4 tons of pangolin scales exported from Cameroon was seized in Hong Kong.
From two seizures only, close to 10 tons of pangolin scales are connected with
the trafficking from Cameroon to Asia.
The
illegal trade in China seems to be putting a lot of pressure on this species
that is barely known to many but which remains the most trafficked mammal in
the world today. Experts say five tons of pangolin scales represent at least 5
000 pangolins slaughtered in the wild and conservationists are in alert mode,
calling for more protection for this species.
During
the last Conference of Parties of the Washington Convention held in South
Africa in September 2016, pangolins were upgraded into appendix I that
represents the category of wildlife with the highest levels of protection and
wildlife law enforcement efforts aimed at stopping big time pangolin scale
traffickers became a priority after this reclassification. The operation is
definitely a step up in the country’s fight against wildlife trafficking and
the complexity of this operation is a big indicator of how far wildlife
officials have gone in gaining experience in wildlife law enforcement.
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