No fewer than 4,118 cartons of frozen poultry products have been seized by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Owerri, Imo State.
The seizure which has a duty paid value (DPV) of N83. 3 million was seized from a tip off.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), NCS, FOU, Zone C, Owerri, Comptroller Bukar Amajam who disclosed this in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the unit, ASCI Chioma Onuoha said the poultry products were transported in a 1X40ft container.
According to Amajam, this was achieved through a tip off from an informant to operatives of the NCS, FOU, Zone C, Owerri. The unit with the aid of partner security agencies including the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Police Force, was able to secure the container and its contents and destroy it in line with government directives.
Comptroller Amajam who stressed that frozen poultry products were illegal since it was contained in the import prohibition lists (IPL).
He called on the public not to patronise such products which he said are harmful to human health.
The CAC also called on intending frozen poultry importers to desist from doing so since officers and men of the unit would not relent in its anti-smuggling campaign.
He enjoined them to channel their resources to legal imports that will be of benefit to the nation and the citizenry.
Amajam reiterated the commitment of the NCS to work tirelessly to protect the economy as well as the local agriculture industry from unhealthy competition from unwholesome goods produced overseas.
According to the statement, representatives of other government agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, NAFDAC, the Department of State Security (DSS), and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were on ground to witness the public destruction of the prohibited items asd directed by NCS Headquarters, Abuja.
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R-L: The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Eastern Marine Command (EMC), Comptroller Ajiya M. Masaya receiving handover notes from his predecessor, Comptroller Usman K. Bello at EMC Headquarters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State…recently
