According to reporting on Radio Mozambique and All Africa, the seizure of chicken and chicken derivatives brings the total contraband chicken goods stopped by customs authorities to 27.5 tonnes this month.

Customs officials also stopped seven importers from smuggling chickens into Mozambique. The birds did not have any of the necessary documentation or health certificates.

Mozambique has recently banned the import of all chickens and chicken derivatives in an effort to protect its national poultry industry.

The director of the provincial economic activities services, in the Maputo provincial government, Ernesto Mafumo, told the Radio that the seizures show how the customs service is doing its job of controlling imports.

The illicit trade in smuggled poultry does not end at the border, said Mafumo. In some cases, importers manage to take contraband chicken into Mozambique. "In those cases, the goods have to be chased and apprehended within Mozambican territory", he said.

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