From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it intercepted and destroyed poultry products with Duty Paid Value of N20. Seven million from two separate operations in a week notwithstanding the slowdown in economic activities due to the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.
Ag Controller Usman Yahaya, in a statement by the Command Public Relations Officer, Jerry Attah, disclosed that the seizures came in 2,154 cartons laden in seven vehicle of different capacities.
Yahaya said the unit’s operatives have sustained round-the-clock patrols while keeping the safe distancing rule in line with the Covid-19 prevention directive, adding: “These seizures, which we made within a week, is a strong message to smugglers and trans-border criminals.”
Affirming that NCS agents have sustained operations in line with the directive of its leadership, Yahaya said the smugglers should “not be deceived into concluding that we are away from our duty posts. As usual, we are on duty and will continue to surprise smugglers with seizures and arrests any time they dare us.
“These seizures were contained in seven vehicles that were quickly abandoned by the drivers, who fled on sighting our officers. We had to improvise means of driving the vehicles to our premises because the smugglers ran away with the keys.”
