Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday destroyed frozen poultry products estimated at N12.8 million intercepted through officers of the command.
The command said the products, neatly packed in a tipper, were intercepted after three days of ambush along the Agunrege/Saki axis in Atisbo Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The seized frozen poultry products packed in 1600 cartons were destroyed and buried by the officers. At the site of the destruction were NCS and police officials, newsmen, and members of the public and officials of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The seizure, worth N12.8 million, according to the Command, was made possible through intelligence gathering.
Speaking at the destruction of the products at the Arapaja Dump Site at Oluyole Local Government of the state, Temitope Ogunkua, Customs area controller of the command, said the NCS officials would not relent in their effort to stop smuggling of banned products.
“We will continue to chase them and we will reduce smuggling in the Command. What you have seen is one of the antics of smugglers. If you see that vehicle you will think it was carrying gravel, but from the intelligence we gathered we discovered it was loaded with imported frozen poultry products.
“Apart from the fact that poultry product is prohibited, what about the health hazard to people who consume these products. I use this opportunity again to appeal to Nigerians that they should stop smuggling and we should be wary of the things we buy,” he said.
Also showcased before newsmen were two fairly used DAF truck with registration numbers AGL 709 XR and LSD 774 XF, which were arrested by officers of the Command at different border locations within the state. The trucks were loaded with smuggled imported 900 bags of 50kg of rice.
