Fugitive Wildlife Trafficker Arrested After Five Years on the Run in Lagos
A suspected wildlife trafficker who had evaded arrest for five years has been apprehended by Nigerian authorities following a coordinated intelligence-led operation involving key enforcement agencies.
The suspect was arrested after security operatives closed in on him in connection with a major wildlife trafficking case linked to the seizure of 1,009.50 kilograms of pangolin scales in the Ikeja area of Lagos State.
According to available reports, the suspect fled shortly after a 2021 crackdown in which his associates were arrested during a joint operation that uncovered the large consignment of illegal wildlife products. The operation was described at the time as one of the significant busts targeting organized wildlife trafficking networks operating through Lagos.
Following the escape, the suspect remained at large for years despite ongoing investigations and surveillance efforts by authorities. Security agencies, working in collaboration with environmental enforcement bodies and international partners, continued tracking leads connected to the wider trafficking syndicate.
His eventual arrest was achieved through renewed intelligence coordination involving Nigerian enforcement agencies, marking the end of a prolonged manhunt. Officials say the operation is part of a broader effort to dismantle illegal wildlife trafficking networks that operate both within and outside the country.
