Demand for pangolins in Asia, where populations of these scaly mammals have dwindled, hasdriven traffickers to Africa, the only other continent where the increasingly endangered animals canbe found. Nigeria has become a hub for pangolin trafficking and other illegal trading of wildlife. Butauthorities have been cracking down, recently arresting a Chinese national suspected of being ahigh-level pangolin trafficker and targeting a supply network in a market in Lagos this month. Thelatter investigation led to five more arrests and the seizure of 8,300 pounds of pangolin scales  - prized in Asia for their perceived medicinal value - from an estimated 1,900 slain animals. Michael Awe, the regional customs chief, said the investigation sends "a strong signal" that theNigeria Customs Service “will not relent in its efforts in fighting wildlife crime to a standstill.” The arrests are part of a enforcement push that shows Nigeria’s increasing focus on combatinganimal trafficking is paying off, experts say. Nigeria's Customs Service made the arrests with intelligence from the Wildlife JusticeCommission, a Netherlands-based organization that supplies global law enforcement with evidenceon criminal wildlife trafficking rings. The Chinese national detained in Lagos in February wasconnected to nearly 16,000 pounds of pangolin scales seized in August after a six-monthinvestigation.