Customs impound N31m smuggled poultry

The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has announced its latest seizure of 3,221 cartons of smuggled poultry worth N19.326m.


This brings the total worth of smuggled poultry impounded by the command since the launch of Operation Hawk Descend to N31m.

In a statement to our correspondent, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Mr. Yusuf Umar, said, “Since the launch of the operation, the command has increased the regularity of officers manning the creeks, rivulets and rivers where they carry out their statutory duties.

“To do this effectively, patrol crafts were kept in good working condition and made available for officials of the command to patrol at all times.

“In the wee hours of Tuesday a joint patrol team intercepted a boat loaded with 3,221 cartons of frozen poultry products along Badagry–Ere waterways with a value of N19.326m.”

Umar said the command had so far recorded a total seizure of 5083 cartons of frozen poultry products with a value of N31.008m.

He added that the command was in effective control of the water ways in the Western region which spans from Kogi, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Niger, Kebbi States; and it interfaces with Nigeria’s neighbouring countries such as the Republic of Togo and Benin.

Umar said, “We are also commissioning the construction of a temporary building, which will serve as office complex and accommodation for the officers and men.

“The old structures which served the Western Marine Command since inception have been demolished to give way for more proper and befitting structures. The facilities embedded in the construction plan to be handled by Messers Ports Plus Limited who was mobilised by the Service Headquarters include office complex, officer’s mess and barracks. Provision has also been made for office of the Custom’s Officers Wives Association.”

In a related development, the Customs Area Controller of the Seme Command, Mr. Ndalati Garba, on Thursday handed over five Nissan Frontier vehicles to the Customs Administration of the Republic of Benin.

A statement explained that the gesture was made to surmount the challenges encountered by the Customs Administration of the Republic Of Benin in cross border relations.