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The Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday said that its new anti-smuggling squad ‘Hawk
Descend’ would focus on dismantling the smugglers’ routes in the South-West
Zone.
Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday said that its new anti-smuggling squad ‘Hawk
Descend’ would focus on dismantling the smugglers’ routes in the South-West
Zone.
Mr Wale
Adeniyi, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS told the News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that the notoriety of smuggling poultry
products through the area was highest.
Adeniyi, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS told the News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that the notoriety of smuggling poultry
products through the area was highest.
He said that
imported poultry products remained on the prohibition list and the clamp down
on the smuggling activities of the product still covered all other zones of the
country.
imported poultry products remained on the prohibition list and the clamp down
on the smuggling activities of the product still covered all other zones of the
country.
“The Hawk
Descend Operation was established to cover the South-West frame and for a
period, for the goal to be met.
Descend Operation was established to cover the South-West frame and for a
period, for the goal to be met.
“This
however does not affect the fact that smuggled frozen products remains
prohibited.
however does not affect the fact that smuggled frozen products remains
prohibited.
“This means
that the Customs will continue to clamp down on smugglers of the product
anywhere in the country.
that the Customs will continue to clamp down on smugglers of the product
anywhere in the country.
“The focus
on the South-West Zone is because we discovered that the access for smuggling
of the products through the border areas from Benin Republic is highest.
on the South-West Zone is because we discovered that the access for smuggling
of the products through the border areas from Benin Republic is highest.
“We did this
to ensure that the concentration of the ‘force’ to fight the smuggling
activities become hard enough to break the guard,” Adeniyi said.
to ensure that the concentration of the ‘force’ to fight the smuggling
activities become hard enough to break the guard,” Adeniyi said.
NAN
reports that the operation “Hawk Descend” was launched by the NCS on July 8 to
check the activities of smugglers of frozen chicken, turkey and other poultry
products.
The Comptroller General of the NCS, Dikko
Abdullahi , said the operation ‘Hawk Descend’ would be conducted in South
Western borders covering Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states.
He also said that the operation would be for
an initial period of three months; from July to September 2015
He said that the operation aimed at achieving
national food security and protection of the Nigerian economy against saboteurs
would have zero tolerance against frozen poultry products imports.
NAN also reports that the NCS in a statement by Adeniyi said frozen
poultry products worth over N12 million was seized during the first week of the
operation “Hawk Descend.”
poultry products worth over N12 million was seized during the first week of the
operation “Hawk Descend.”
He said the seizures consisted of 1,803 (One Thousand, Eight
Hundred and Three) cartons of the banned products confiscated in the
operation.
Hundred and Three) cartons of the banned products confiscated in the
operation.
According to Adeniyi, a significant number of the seizures were made on
the Iyafin Badagry waterways on the Lagoon that stretches through the Nigeria –
Benin Border.
the Iyafin Badagry waterways on the Lagoon that stretches through the Nigeria –
Benin Border.
He said that
the seizures were made by the Federal Operations Unit, the Seme Command the
Western Marine Command and the Oyo/Osun Command.
the seizures were made by the Federal Operations Unit, the Seme Command the
Western Marine Command and the Oyo/Osun Command.
