The anti-smuggling arm of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C based in Owerri, Imo State, has impounded a truck 24,273 cartons of imported frozen poultry products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N256,264,200.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Unit, Onuigbo Ifeoma, quoted the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Haruna Mamudu as saying the items, seized along the Benin axis in Edo State, were cleverly and deceitfully concealed in a Scania truck belonging to DHL.
Mamudu said the consumption of foreign frozen poultry products preserved with chemicals meant for the preservation of dead bodies posed serious health hazards to the citizenry. He regretted that a number of untimely deaths had occurred as a result of this.
He said Customs had continued to ensure maximum media publicity in respect of the dangers posed to human health by imported frozen poultry products and warned those still engaged in the illicit business to desist forthwith in their own interest or face the full weight of the law.
He said while the Nigeria Customs Servie had remained resolute, consistent and diligent in the war against smuggling, those involved in the unpatriotic act had continued to devise and perfect different plans to achieve their illegal ambitions.
He said Customs operatives are now better equipped, trained and transformed “to deal decisively with smugglers wherever they operate with a superlative intelligence gathering system”.
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