Nigerian Man Fined $7,500 After Being Caught With Illegal Crocodile Meat At Calgary International Airport

 A Nigerian man identified as Adeleke Abubakar Ali-Ibironke has been fined $7,500 after he was caught with meat from a threatened species of crocodile at the Calgary International Airport earlier this year.

Adeleke Abubakar Ali-Ibironke had on September 20, 2023 pleaded guilty in the Alberta Court of Justice to one count of unlawfully importing a species of animal without obtaining the required permits.

The Nigerian had arrived in Calgary on Feb. 26 but failed to declare any food or animal products.

The Canada Border Services Agency in its investigation discovered six pounds of meat products in his luggage.

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After subsequent testing, the meat was identified as an african dwarf crocodile, classified as a threatened specie.

Ali-Ibironke was then charged under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, a piece of legislation created to protect Canadian and foreign species of plants and animals from exploitation.

African dwarf crocodiles since 1995 has been listed as a Level 1 species at risk under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with commercial trade in these species is generally not allowed.

Adeleke Abubakar Ali-Ibironke will pay the fine to the Government of Canada's Environmental Damages Fund.