The Nigeria Customs Service announced the stepping of its war against smugglers of frozen poultry products into the country tagged “Operation Hawk Descend”. The operation “has continued to yield massive results as the Service has recorded seizures of the banned products worth N37,836,000 in the eighth and ninth weeks of its operation,” Deputy Public Relations Officer Joseph Attah said.

Attah explained in a statement signed for Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali, that the seizures consist of 8,408 cartons of frozen products impounded at different locations along the south western borders of Nigeria. “These include Badagry/Yekeme and Seme Ashipa Creeks in Badagry Seme axis. Others locations include Seme, Gbaji and Owode Creeks in Lagos and Idiroko axis,” he state.

Attah gave the breakdown of the seizures as follows;

OGUN: 2,213 cartons valued at N9,958,500

FOU A: 4,412 cartons valued at N19,854,000

SEME: 200 cartons valued at N900,000

WESTERN MARINE: 1,583 cartons valued at N7,123,500

According to Attah, “In his maiden meeting with the officers and men at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), reaffirmed the Service commitment to arrest and prosecute anyone caught in the act of smuggling. He stated that all revenue leakages will be appropriately blocked.

“The CGC said every act of economic sabotage including false declarations, deliberate misapplication of the tariff, undervaluation and concealment shall be dealt with decisively.

“Ali called on all stakeholders to support the Service in order to achieve its mandate towards the Federal Government’s resolve to secure the nation, boost the economy and create job opportunities for the youths.”