In its continuous war against smugglers, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has yet recorded a series of seizures of banned frozen products worth N37,836,000.00 (Thirty Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Six Thousand naira), in the eighth (8) and Ninth (9) week of its operations, tagged: “Operation Hawk Descend.”
The seizures which consist of 8,408 (Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Eight) cartons of the frozen products were 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.
A breakdown of the seizures, as contained in an official statement signed by the Deputy Public Relations Officers of Customs, Joseph Attah, revealed that a total of 2,213 cartons of the frozen products valued at N9,958,500 was seized in Ogun State, while a total of 4,412 cartons of frozen products whose value is put at N19, 854, 000 was seized in the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’ (FOU A).
Within the period in focus, another 200 cartons worth N900,000 was impounded at Seme while Western Marine recorded a total of 1,583 seized cartons put at N7,123,500, bringing the total seized products to 8,408 cartons worth N37,836,000.
It will be recalled that in his maiden meeting with the officers and men at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ibrahim (Rtd), had reaffirmed the Service commitment to arrest and prosecute anyone caught in the act of smuggling.
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.
