October 17, 2013

Nigerian Customs destroys smuggled poultry products

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Oyo/Osun Command has destroyed 5,390 cartons of imported poultry products with the monetary value of over NGN37.7 million (US$235,000) in Ibadan, Nigeria.

The said importation of poultry products, which ought to be produced locally to boost indigenous firms, is not good for local farmers in the country.

According to Vanguard, the Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the Command, Richard Oteri, made this known at the dump site where the contra-band items were burnt in Ibadan, explaining that the products concealed by smugglers with other items in different vehicles in attempt to escape security checks were intercepted through intelligence gathering by the Crack-Squad of Oyo/Osun, led by DSC Olajogun J. A. along old Eruwa road at Ulugun.

Oteri said, "The importers of poultry products and other goods that are prohibited by the Federal Government will continue to suffer losses until they desist from this criminal act to allow sanity in our economic environment. Consumption of such products is dangerous to health because of the time the birds were killed, the method of conveyance and preservation system, which cannot be determined."

He also said that they are working in line with government's economic policy to facilitate trades and protect local industries from unhealthy competition through influx of contra-band goods from other places. Also, such illegal act constitutes serious economic sabotage and if not tackled will hinder the programmes put in place by government to develop the agricultural sector.

Oteri added that in order to pass through the bush, the smugglers used smaller vehicles, but officers still caught them. He advised Nigerians to engage in legitimate businesses that will enhance economic growth and development rather than nefarious activities capable of impeding growth of local industries.