Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone C, Owerri, has impounded a bulletproof car, including other seizures with a Duty Paid Value, DPV, worth over N441,685,968.

Other items seized include 5,364 cartons of imported frozen poultry products (chicken, turkey and gizzard), which were deliberately concealed in Mercedes Benz trucks with used Jacuzzi bathing tubes, rolls of black polythene nylon bags, and crates of woods lining the walls of the truck.

The products, which were impounded on the Benin, Agbor and Bayelsa/ Port-Harcourt axis between August 13 and 14, 2015, respectively, have a DPV of N89,338,400.

In addition, 100 vehicles with fake documents were impounded at the Benin Expressway, Agbor-Asaba axis and Aba/Owerri highway.

The 15 vehicles included latest models of cars ranging from Toyota Camry (bulletproof) 2015 model without End-user Certificate, six Land cruiser Prado, Land cruiser VXR, Toyota Fortuner, Lexus LX 570 and M/Benz CLS 350, all 2014/2015 model worth N346,347,568.00.

Also, 14 suspects are now in customs net in connection with the seized contrabands. Speaking with newsmen in Owerri, Customs Area Controller in charge of the unit, Comptroller Dimka Victor, said four suspects were arrested in connection with the illegally imported frozen poultry products, and eight suspects for the smuggled vehicles.

Dimka added that a total of 300 bags of 50kg rice with DPV of N6,000,000 was equally seized by officers at Ikom border in Cross River State, with two suspects arrested, adding that the suspects were helping in their investigations into the illegal importations of the seized items.

While denouncing the rising tide of smuggling activities in the country despite the obvious consequences of the unpatriotic business, he warned those still involved to desist forthwith in their own interest.

“Smuggling of contraband goods has continued to damage the nation’s economy; and many families have been ruined as a result of the indulgence of some of their beloved ones in this obnoxious act.”

The destruction of the imported frozen poultry products were carried out in the presence of officials of NESREA, NAFDAC and DSS in line with the recent launched “Operation Hawk Descend” to check the activities of smugglers of foreign poultry products.

Adapted from National Mirror

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