LAGOS: The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme-Badagry Command have seized poultry product valued at N4 million.
The seizures were made by the Patrol teams coordinated by Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement Section, Abdullahi Mohammed.
The confiscated products were destroyed at Seme by the of customs officials in the presence of media men.
According to the Spokesman of the command, Ernest Olottah, the seizure was part of the command’s efforts to suppress smuggling at the border axis.
The Customs Area Controller of the area command, Comptroller Ndalati Garba Mohammed, had directed increased enforcement at the border area including various footpaths to forestall attempts by desperate smugglers to evade duty and bring in prohibited items through unapproved routes.
Full compliance with this directive according to Olottah, a Deputy Superintendent of Customs resulted to various seizures and arrests in the past, “including this recent one comprising frozen turkey and chickens which falls under import prohibition.
“While some of the suspected smugglers escaped into the bush at night during the operation, our operatives arrested one of them and also seized a vehicle being used as a means of conveyance of the prohibited items.
“Today, we are destroying these poultry products in compliance with government directives and wish to use this opportunity to warn smugglers to desist from the anti economic vice and face lawful trades.”
“The command has commenced investigations about those behind the smuggling act and get them to face the full wrath of the law. We are also on the lookout for any individual or group of persons that will dare our resolve by attempting to smuggle through Seme Border or any area within our coverage. We will never relent in arresting and prosecuting them in line with our enabling law.
“The command is still deploying persuasion and enforcement side by side as the CAC has kept the tempo of Customs Community Relations high in his attempt to dissuade members of the host and border business communities from smuggling while encouraging importers of dutiable goods to always pay duty, he added.
“This persuasion strategy is paying off as our duty collection is appreciating because more people are complying and we have often assisted agents and importers through proper enlightenment.
“Our enforcement is round the clock and we shall continue to improve on our no compromise position while ensuring that compliant traders and importers or agents will enjoy the best of customs trade facilitation roles by our well trained personnel,” he said.
