The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command, has uncovered six containers laden with unregistered pharmaceuticals illegally imported into the country through the Apapa port, with a duty paid value of N3.2 billion.

Other items in the seized containers are cosmetics, used clothing, and two vehicles.

Displaying the seized prohibited items yesterday to journalists in Apapa, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Babatunde Olomu, said three suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizures and are at various stages of interrogation to face the full wrath of the law.

He gave a breakdown of the seizures to include a 40ft container with No. SUDU 8685733, found to contain 1,698 RTPL CSC cough syrups with codeine concealed in 202 packages of water closet, as well as a 40ft container No. MRSU 4846204, found to contain 1,690 cartons of codeine syrup concealed in toilet seats.

Olomu said the two seizures have a street value of N2.7 billion, noting that the containers were intercepted as a result of international collaboration as well as local networking with officers and men of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The CAC also listed a 40ft container with No. ONEU 1153150, found to contain 1,584 packages of Globatin anti-marks and 30g Clobetasol cream falsely declared as truck tyres, as well as a 40ft container No. MRSU 3258823, found to contain Rabeprazole for injection, 25mg Zahifranil tablets, 1000mg vancomycine hydrochloride, ciprophetadine with vitamin B complex, and other pharmaceutical products.

He said these pharmaceuticals are without NAFDAC registration numbers, falsely declared as kitchen wares and tables.

Also seized was a 40ft container with No. MRKU 0904594, found to contain two stolen vehicles from Canada, which include a 2024 model Lexus RX 450 vehicle with chassis number JTJCJNGA6R2017707 and another 2023 Lexus RX 350 with chassis number 2T2BAMCAPCO32741, falsely declared as food items.

He said another 40ft container No. SEKU 4716830 was found to contain 390 bales of used clothing, which contravenes the import prohibition law.

Olomu said the NCS owe the Nigerian people the duty of protecting them from dangerous imports that are injurious to their health and well-being.

He further disclosed that the command also intercepted two cars stolen from Canada that were being smuggled into Nigeria.

He said in addition to contravening the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, these imported containers with prohibited medical items also violate the World Customs Organisation’s Operation Stop IV, which is a global enforcement operation against the trafficking of counterfeit, substandard, and unauthorised medical supplies.

Olomu said the command has so far generated a total of N1.094 trillion as of May 21, 2025.

He said this collection confirms the command’s trajectory and laudable antecedent of meeting and surpassing its target.