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Customs impound N54m expired poultry products

By on December 21, 2014

The Federal Operations Unit Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service has impounded over 10,000 cartons of frozen poultry products, with a duty paid value of N54m.

The seizures were said to have been made in two separate operations that occurred on December 17 and 18 respectively.

The Controller FOU Zone A, Deputy Controller Turaki Adamu, represented by Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Adamu Mohammed, said at a press briefing in Lagos that the poultry products, which had been smuggled into the country through Cotonou, were unfit for human consumption.

He said, “On December 18 2014, acting on a tip off, Mohammed led a team to the Agege axis of Lagos State where they impounded three trucks containing over 6,550 cartons of frozen poultry products. The day before, another team had intercepted a Volvo truck along the Ojodu-Berger axis of Lagos State containing over 3,462 cartons of poultry products.

“Now these products were shipped from Europe to Cotonou and we know how long it takes to get there. It would take more time still for the smugglers to move these products from Cotonou to Nigeria so they would need to be preserved. The chemicals used by the smugglers to preserve the poultry products were not good.”

One suspect has been arrested in connection to the seizures, according to him.

Leading journalists to a dump site within the workshop area of the unit, Mohammed said the impounded products would be destroyed at the site which was dedicated for that purpose. The exercise is expected to be witnessed by officials of the Lagos State Government and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. Already over 30,000 cartons of frozen poultry products impounded during the year had been destroyed at the dump site.

He said, “We normally decontaminate the poultry products with acid before destruction. Already we have a suspect in custody and he is being investigated so that we can apprehend those behind this business. It is unfortunate that some unscrupulous smugglers would rather flood the country with unwholesome products that have adverse health implications at this yuletide season.

“While we continue to work towards the realisation of the set objectives of the Comptroller General of Customs, we call on all Nigerians to oblige us with information that will help apprehend and decimate the activities of smugglers.”

 

[Punch]