Customs seizes N12m ‘harmful’ frozen chickens, Indian hemp in Ogun

By Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta 57 minutes ago
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The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday said it has seized “harmful” frozen products and cannabis sativa (Indian hemp) worth over N12million.

It blamed increasing importation and smuggling of contraband poultry products from neighbouring countries on selfish businessmen who overlook the health implication such products pose to fellow Nigerians.

The command noted that despite the “health hazards inherent in the consumption of imported frozen poultry,” which compelled the Federal Government to ban its importation, they “have become the new smuggling attraction” to smugglers.

Addressing reporters at the command’s headquarters on Quarry Road, Abeokuta, its Comptroller, Mr. Akande Bamidele, said in the past two weeks, the command has seized and burnt 985 cartons of banned poultry products valued at N4,432,500.

Bamidele said during his command’s anti-smuggling duty, it seized cannabis sativa weighing 1,102 kilogrammes and valued at N7,714,000.

The drugs, which were packaged in 53 sacks of 10kilogrammes each, four sacks of 10kilogrammes each and one sack of 17kilogrammes, were handed over to the state Commander of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Mohammed Mohammed, in the presence of reporters.

Bamidele said the NCS would intensify efforts for the “interdiction of frozen poultry products” and other contraband to “secure the health, economy and territorial integrity of Nigeria”.

He added that the security of the nation and its borders is not the duty of one government agency but that of all agencies and all the citizens.

via The Nation