This is coming barely two weeks after the command foiled attempt by smugglers to smuggle 1,280 bags of rice and cartons of frozen poultry products with a Duty Paid Value of N8.6million into the country.
Addressing journalists at the dumpsite where the contraband items were buried last weekend, Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Zakka Audu, said that the poultry products were smuggled into the country from Benin Republic and intercepted at Kese when the smugglers wanted to cross the Novo Creek to Ilasa in Ogun State.
He said that the seizures recorded by the command in the last two weeks were made possible through the synergy between the command and the task force created by the Customs Comptroller General.
“We monitored this consignment right from the border and up to the time of interception at Kese. This seizure was made possible through the synergy between the command, the CIU of the command and the CG task force,” he said.
He added: “Perhaps because of the ember months, the activities of smugglers is higher this time that people are anticipating Christmas and New Year but I want to assure smugglers that we are equal to the task because my officers are highly motivated.”
While appealing to the media to assist NCS in enlightening members of the public on the dangers of smuggling, Audu noted that apart from the hazards consumption of the poultry products poses to human health, smuggling activities also stifles the economy thereby causing unemployment and impediment to local production.
He said the command will not rest on its oars in ensuring that smugglers are forced out of business.
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