The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt Area I Command, has handed over expired pharmaceutical products with a Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of over N59 million to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further regulatory action.

Speaking to members of the Maritime Correspondents Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) during a courtesy visit on Thursday, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Dr Salamatu Atuluku, said the seizure underscored the strong collaboration between the NCS and NAFDAC in safeguarding public health and preventing harmful and unregulated pharmaceutical products from entering the Nigerian market.

Atuluku disclosed that the expired drugs, which were handed over to NAFDAC on July 29, 2026, were intercepted during a joint examination conducted on June 22, by officers of the Port Harcourt Area I Command, NAFDAC and other relevant government agencies.

She said the examination, carried out at Shed III at about 1:20 p.m., involved a 40-foot container, numbered MRSU3199206, with Customs number 354, which originated from the United States.

According to her, the container was found to contain 606 cartons of Ibuprofen capsules, 173 cartons of Donepezil Hydrochloride tablets, 266 cartons of Subvenite (Lamotrigine) tablets, 103 cartons of Lansoprazole delayed-release capsules and other expired pharmaceutical products valued at over N59 million.

Atuluku lamented that had these pharmaceutical products found their way into the market, they could have caused avoidable health complications with potentially devastating consequences.

“The interception of this consignment prevented what could have been a major public health disaster. Expired medicines are not merely ineffective; they pose serious health risks to consumers. The use of such products can result in treatment failure, drug toxicity, worsening of existing medical conditions, antimicrobial resistance, and in some cases, loss of lives,” she stated.

The Area Controller stressed that the NCS would not condone attempts by unscrupulous importers or criminal networks to use the nation’s seaports as channels to smuggle expired, substandard, falsified or prohibited pharmaceutical products into the country.

She warned that such acts are unacceptable and constitute a direct threat to public health, national security and the integrity of the nation’s healthcare system.

Atuluku said the Port Harcourt Area I Command remains committed to strengthening intelligence gathering, enhancing collaboration with sister agencies, sustaining robust cargo examinations and protecting the borders to prevent importation of harmful and prohibited goods as well as illicit trade through the nation’s ports.

She warned those engaged in the importation of expired pharmaceutical products and other prohibited items that the Service is fully alert and will continue to identify, intercept and seize such goods and bring offenders to justice in accordance with the provisions of the NCS Act 2023 and other extant laws.

Atuluku commended the dedication, professionalism and vigilance of officers of the Command, Customs intelligence units, NAFDAC and other participating agencies for the successful interception.