The Nigerian Customs Service in Owerri said it intercepted a truck with 11,315 cartons of imported poultry products whose Duty Paid Value (DPV) stood at N108.6 million.
The Area Controller of Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Comptroller Mohammed Garba, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Owerri on Thursday.
He said the truck with registration LND 641 XM was impounded at the Benin axis on Monday, October 31, while two suspects were arrested with the illicit items.
“The suspects are now helping the Customs in its investigations.
“The truck was ferrying the contraband good by a new strategy contrived by smugglers simply known as ‘false bottom method concealment’ to beat men of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“The seized truck was cleverly partitioned with wood, bolted and knotted, as a strategy to avoid being detected by Customs officials.
“The inner layer of the partitioned truck was stockpiled with the contraband goods, while the outer layer of the partitions was left empty,’’ he said.
Garba expressed worry at the continued indulgence in smuggling by some Nigerians in spite of the obvious consequences.
He warned those still engrossed in the illicit business to purge themselves or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
“Poultry products remained prohibited goods because of its unhygienic preservative methods which is injurious to humans.
“The NCS is now better equipped and mobilised to meet smuggling challenges.
“We are also working in line with the mandate of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd), who is poised to eliminate all traces of smuggling in the country,’’ he said.
Garba implored members of the public with useful information about smugglers, their agents and collaborators to make them available to the NCS or its sister organisations like the NDLEA, NAFDAC, Police and SON.
He said the identity of such informants would be handled with utmost confidentiality. (NAN)
