The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Oyo/Osun Command has destroyed a large quantity of imported poultry products estimated at the market value of over N48.7million, stressing that bringing in such prohibited item constitutes serious economic sabotage to local industries producing similar goods.
The items destroyed at Arapaja dump site in Oluyole Area of Ibadan, in the presence of relevant government agencies, were intercepted by one of the anti-smuggling teams of the Command, led by Chief Supritendent Efetobor, R.O.
The team while on duty impounded a Mazda, Volkswagon Passat and faker bus, along Agbegi-Olodo axis of Osun State, all loaded with over 10.000 cartons of imported poultry products.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Mr. Oteri Richard, expressed displeasure with the smuggling of frozen poultry products, which is prohibited into the country, to the detriment of local farmers.
“Recently, a truck with registration number LS 665 XC, loaded with 16,180 cartons of frozen poultry items was also intercepted and destroyed in the Command. I am using this opportunity to warn Nigerians that consumption of imported frozen poultry products is harmful to health as hazardous chemicals are used in preservation of those items, even as this illicit trade destroys our local economy”, he said.
“We are warning smugglers trying to sabotage the economy to desist and allow sanity in our economic environment because we must continue to go after them. The top Customs Management has equipped us with necessary logistics and work tools to curb smuggling. We are alert in the Command because of criminal elements who often smuggle in hard drugs and other offensive items.
“For instance, our officers just arrested a bus fully loaded with cannabis, not too long ago we made a similar arrest and handing over of 60 sacks of cannabis to NDLEA. The synergy with other government agencies in the State is important and must be encouraged, especially with insecurity in the land.
“This arrest is as a result of our renewed efforts and commitment to bring down to the barest minimum, the incidence of smuggling. The drugs had been handed over to the State Commander, Nigeria Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mrs Omobolade Faboyede, in the Command’s headquarters.
“We shall continue to intensify our anti-smuggling activities through the deployment of intelligence and synergy with other critical stakeholders for the actualization of this statutory mandate.
“These deliberate efforts will guide us in contributing our quota towards realizing remarkable results in line with the vision of the Comptroller General of Customs, hence improve the economy of the nation through revenue collection,” he added.
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