Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone 'A', intercepted three live pangolins during an anti-smuggling operation in Ikeja, Lagos. The seizure happened before the animals could be moved onward, though information about any arrests did not immediately surface. Pangolins rank among the most trafficked mammals in the world, hunted largely for their scales and meat. Nigeria has faced repeated scrutiny in recent years over its role as a transit point in the illegal wildlife trade. The Federal Operations Unit runs raids across Lagos and nearby states to break up the routes traffickers use. Animals seized alive are generally handed over to wildlife or conservation authorities for care. The operation adds to a run of recent captures tied to the smuggling of protected species.