Customs destroys another N98.6m smuggled turkey in Oyo

Barely one month after destroying smuggled turkey worth N11.5 million, the Oyo/Osun States Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has destroyed another batch worth N98.6 million.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the first batch of smuggled turkey was intercepted on the Ibadan-Ife Expressway on May 8.
Usman Bumba, a Deputy Controller of the NCS in the command, told newsmen at the Lapite waste dump site, venue of the destruction exercise, that the new consignment was intercepted on June 6 on the old Abeokuta-Bakatari Road.
Bumba said: “It contained 19,750 cartons of turkey, 530 iron rods and 36 sheets of 8mm iron plates.
“The market value is put at N98,600,000 only.”
Bumba urged residents of the area to desist from eating frozen poultry products, saying: “They are hazardous to health and hinders the growth of the national economy.”
He reiterated the command’s commitment to reducing smuggling and boosting government’s revenue profile through new anti-smuggling strategies.
Bumba said the command in the last three weeks had seized 497 bags of rice, 139 bales of prohibited textiles, 621 used tyres, 600 bags of animal feeds, six cars, three trucks and a tipper.
He also said the command generated N63 million as revenue with N11. 2 million realised from duties paid on cars only.
DSP Joseph Alajokun, who led the team that intercepted the truck carrying the turkey, said the officials acted on intelligence report from residents of the area.
He said his team trailed the smugglers for two days before the seizure, adding that the truck conveying the smuggled products was abandoned on the highway.