The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday destroyed 1,583 cartons of frozen poultry products estimated at N9,768,000 as part of the operation "Hawk Descend’’campaign that was introduced in July 2015 by the former Comptroller General of Customs , Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde.
Currently the command has intercepted and destroyed the largest number of smuggled poultry, product totalling 6,668 cartons.
The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday destroyed 1,583 cartons of frozen poultry products estimated at N9,768,000 as part of the operation "Hawk Descend’’campaign that was introduced in July 2015 by the former Comptroller General of Customs , Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi Inde.
Currently the command has intercepted and destroyed the largest number of smuggled poultry, product totalling 6,668 cartons.
Addressing journalists shortly after the destruction at the command, Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Umar said that latest seizure were made possible with collaboration from the Nigerian Army.
The comptroller also added that customs will continue to partner with other relevant security agencies in order to nip smuggling activities in the bud.
Umar disclosed that the products were intercepted on the 6th and 7th of September, 2015 arround the Badagry, Yekeme and Idi roko axis.
He noted that during the operations, the smugglers resisted the customs before a distress call was put through for military assistance.
Umar reiterated that the command will continue to run smugglers out of the illicit trade, stressing that the command is targeting a total of 10,000 cartons of the product before the end of operation codenamed "Hawk Descend".
The customs boss acknowledged that thousands of small scale businesses have closed down due to smuggling.
He assured that the "ember months" will not be easy for smugglers, because the service is ready to run them out of business.
Giving a breakdown of the latest seizures, Umar disclosed that on the 6th of September 2015 ,a total of 278 cartons valued at N1,668,000 were intercepted in the morning, while another batch of 300 cartons, valued at N1,800,000 were recorded later the same day.
He said in the second day, 1,000 cartons of frozen products estimated at N6,300,000 were seized, adding that the seizure came as a result of resilience by customs officers and the military.
"We have been networking to make sure that we nip smuggling in the bud, but still we have some unscrupulous elements that are not patriotic enough to make sure that the country move forward"
"In this new administration, the Nigeria Customs Service cannot be left behind and we must be alive to our responsibility"
"Since the introduction of ‘’operation hawk descend’’ two months ago, the Western Marine Command has been in the forefront of fighting smugglers on waters", he added.
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