Ali vows to prosecute smugglers

Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ibrahim (rtd) has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to arrest and prosecute anyone caught in the act of smuggling stressing that revenue leakages will be appropriately blocked.

This is coming as the NCS on Thursday said that it has recorded seizures of frozen poultry products worth N37.8million in the eighth and ninth week of operation ‘Hawk Descend’

According to a statement signed by Deputy Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Joseph Attah, the operation had continued to yield massive result.

He said the seizures which consist of 8,408 cartons were impounded at different locations along the South Western borders of Nigeria including Badagry/Yekeme and Seme Ashipa Creeks in Badagry Seme axis.

Other locations include Seme, Gbaji and Owode Creeks in Lagos and Idiroko axis.

Giving a breakdown of the seizures, Attah said that 2,213 cartons were impounded in Ogun State, with a value of N9,958,500;  Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A confiscated 4,412 cartons, valued N19,854,000; the Seme Border command –  200 cartons valued at N900,000, while the Western Marine Command impounded 1,583 cartons, with a value of N7,123,500 totalling 8,408 cartons with a total value of N37,836,000.

Ali vowed that every act of economic sabotage including false declarations, deliberate misapplication of the tariff, undervaluation and concealment shall be dealt with decisively.

The customs boss had during his maiden meeting with officers called on all stakeholders to support the Service in order to achieve its mandate towards the Federal Government’s resolve to secure the nation, boost the economy and create job opportunities for the youths.



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