Nigeria intercepts pangolin shipment

Customs officials in Nigeria have seized a shipment of endangered animal parts including pangolin scales and ivory headed for Vietnam.

It was discovered in a container declared as furniture at the Lagos port.

The Nigerian Customs Service says the items are worth $2.5m (£1.8m).

Upon investigation officials discovered the animal parts hidden inside logs including nearly 9,000kg of pangolin scales. 

Other items such as ivory, lion bones and animal horns were found.

One person was arrested last Thursday in connection with the alleged trafficking.

Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world. 

Nigeria serves as a major hub for smuggling the endangered animals to south-east Asian countries such as China and Vietnam where they are used for traditional medicines. 

Earlier this month, a court in China jailed 17 people for smuggling pangolin scales worth $28m from Nigeria.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: Reuters