The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted nine containers of imported expired pharmaceutical products, narcotic drugs, and medicines with fake National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) labels worth N53.4 billion at the Apapa Port.

Displaying the seized containers at the port to journalists on Wednesday, the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adeniyi, said the nine seizures followed intelligence gathering, scanning analysis, physical examination and close collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Adeniyi listed the seizures to include 3,639 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Canadian Loud) weighing 1,819.5 kilogrammes concealed alongside three imported vehicles and assorted automobile spare parts in a 40 ft container with the number CAAU7569127.

Another 9,918 sachets of Cannabis Sativa, weighing approximately 4.95 metric tonnes, were concealed alongside two imported vehicles and household items in a 40 ft container with number HAMU3246311.
Other seizures included 1,700 cartons (170,000 bottles) of codeine syrup concealed with 38 cartons of insulated casserole dishes in a 40 ft container with number MRKU3816476 and 1,300 cartons of expired pharmaceutical products, including tramadol, in another 40 ft container with number HASU4519480.

The customs boss said 1,269 cartons of expired pharmaceutical products, including Oxytocin injections, Mexclor eye drops and Carbamazepine tablets (Termigral brand), were in a 40ft container with number MRKU4961275, while another 40ft container with number PCIU8771576 contained expired pharmaceutical products, including Cloxicillin capsules 100mg, Cynamine 12 vitamin B12 injections and Becoline B-complex injections.

Adeniyi also noted that a 20ft container with number MRKU 6964435 contained Piccan Teething Powder as well as a 40ft container, No. TCKU7000791, containing 1,100 packages of CHACOLD Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules bearing a fake NAFDAC registration number (04-6646) and an expiry date of December 2028.

He said all the items were intercepted for regulatory actions, noting that the consignments at first glance, appeared legitimate.
Adeniyi said, however, a detailed verification of the NAFDAC certificate presented by the declarant established that the products were not registered.

He said consequently, the consignments were seized in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and will be handed over to NAFDAC for further regulatory action and investigation.
“The use of a fake registration number and supporting documentation clearly indicates a deliberate attempt to smuggle unregistered pharmaceutical products into the Nigerian market, thereby posing a serious risk to public health,” he stated.

He stated that the total value of the nine seizures stood at N53.4 billion, stressing that the significance of the interceptions went beyond their monetary worth.

Adeniyi said the seizures represented lives protected, families preserved, communities secured and countless young Nigerians shielded from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unsafe medicines.
Adeniyi warned that the importation of expired medicines and controlled substances remained a direct threat to public health, noting that criminal networks were increasingly using sophisticated concealment methods to exploit legitimate trade channels.

He also explained that only the prohibited items were being handed over, while the vehicles, spare parts and other goods used to conceal them would remain in the custody of the Customs Service for seizure, forfeiture, condemnation, revenue recovery and other enforcement actions.

The Comptroller-General commended officers of the Apapa Area Command for their professionalism while warning smugglers to desist from using Nigeria’s ports to traffic illicit drugs, expired pharmaceuticals or other prohibited goods.

Receiving the consignments, the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brig. -Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) said a four-month intelligence-led operation involving the NDLEA, the NCS and international partners foiled the attempt by drug traffickers to smuggle 6,778.5 kilogrammes of Cannabis Indica through the Apapa Port.

Marwa, who is represented by Assistant Commander General Narcotics (ACGN) Ibinabo Archie-Abia, described the operation as a major milestone in the fight against transnational drug trafficking.

He said the seizures were the result of months of intelligence gathering by the NDLEA’s Special Investigation Unit and Marine Intelligence Unit in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Nigeria Customs Service.

He said the agencies are more determined than ever to dismantle organised criminal syndicates and drug trafficking networks operating within and beyond the nation’s borders.