Customs seize N45bn Smuggled Poultry Products
The Customs Public Relations Officer, Wale Adeniyi, said in a statement that Operation Hawk Descend of the NCS has made the seizures since the start of its operations in July.
He also revealed that the duty paid value was the highest so far. According to the breakdown of the seizures; Ogun Command quantity of seizure is 6, 565 cartons and duty paid value is N2, 937,441.00.
“Federal Operation Unit (FOU) A (Lagos) quantity of seizure is 1,395 cartons and duty paid value is N7, 533,000.00.
“FOU B (Kaduna) quantity of seizure is 6,000 cartons and duty paid value is N35,000,000 and the total quantity is 13,960 cartons value at N 45,470,441,” Adeniyi said.
Assessing the trend in seizures, Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi, observed that smugglers of poultry products are now exploring routes in the Northern and Eastern parts of the country. The special operation has recently made life difficult for smugglers in the South-Western flank.
Abdullahi commended the FOU in Lagos and Kaduna for their huge seizures, adding that the FOU in the two states had put other Commands on alert.
“Last week, FOU Operatives in Kaduna apprehended two trucks conveying smuggled poultry products at Gidan Wali, along Babana border in Niger State,” he added.
Adeniyi said that the success of Operation Hawk Descend has drawn commendation from the Poultry Association of Nigeria. The organisation’s President, Onallo Akpa, reportedly expressed appreciation for the outstanding performance in containment of smuggled poultry products.
Adeniyi added that farmers have also commended FOU performance, achieved through various methods including onslaught, arrests and confiscation of smuggled poultry products into the Country.
The Customs PRO reminded that the Nigeria Customs Service recently signed a bilateral agreement with the Customs Administration of Benin Republic to synergise and share intelligence, in order to boost operations along the borders.
To actualise the agreement, the Nigeria Customs had supported its Benin counterparts with a donation of five new pick-up double cabin vehicles.
SOURCE: NAN
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