The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has impounded 3,328 cartons of poultry products valued at N17.9 million and arrested two suspects in connection with the seizure.
The seizures according to a statement signed by the unit’s spokesman, Uche Ejesieme and made available to SHIPS &PORTS DAILY were impounded at different locations within the jurisdiction of the unit on Monday.
Ejesieme quoted the Controller of the unit, Comptroller Dahiru Umar as saying that the unit has been working hard to change its mode of operation to ensure that smugglers were put out of business.
Umar also disclosed that the renewed onslaught led to the interception of an articulated truck suspected to be used in conveying large quantity of smuggled frozen poultry products which quantity is yet to be determined.
He described the team leader as a highly committed officer whose contribution to the seizure profile of the unit cannot be quantified.
The Controller also showed how two suspected smugglers used a truck purportedly for conveying alcoholic beverage to conceal cartons of poultry products.
He said, “Investigations are ongoing to determine the level of involvement of the suspects before charging them to court and determine the degree of complicity of the truck owners in the unlawful act”.
He said the poultry products will be destroyed after contacting other relevant agencies of government adding that the command has dug the site for the destruction activity.
The Customs boss spoke on the operational readiness of the unit under his command to deal decisively with smuggling and smugglers in line with the mission and vision of the Comptroller General.
“The smugglers must expect a tougher onslaught on them because we cannot afford to fail in the discharge of our statutory mandate of suppressing smuggling. I have commenced courtesy visits to heads of critical security agencies of the federal government so that we can form a formidable front in the fight against smuggling.
“I advise smugglers in this zone to invest their money in more legitimate businesses and avoid smuggling because the more you smuggle, the more we seize. We also call on the general public to oblige us with useful information on the activities of smugglers,” he said.
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