In a major enforcement operation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully intercepted and transferred 25 containers laden with pharmaceutical and various other counterfeit substances. the substantial haul, valued at an estimated N9.23 billion, was officially handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for necessary subsequent actions.
Bashir Adeniyi, the comptroller-general of customs (CGC), confirmed this significant development during the handover ceremony which took place on Friday in Apapa, Lagos. this collaborative effort between NCS and NAFDAC underscores the ongoing commitment to protecting public health and safety by disrupting the flow of illicit and substandard products into the country’s markets.
The comptroller-general said the seizures, with an aggregate Duty Paid Value of N9.23 billion, represent a sophisticated network of criminal enterprises that deliberately exploit regulatory gaps to compromise national health security.
He noted that the handover was another tangible result of their combined commitment between the Service and NAFDAC following their strategic Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2024.
Adeniyi added that its Implementation Committee had already begun to yield remarkable outcomes in their enforcement efforts against unwholesome food and pharmaceutical products.
The CGC said under the coordination of the Office of the National Security Adviser, their joint operations had resulted in the seizure of over 200 containers.
He said this was followed by coordinated destruction exercises, with unregistered pharmaceutical products comprising 63.7 per cent of seizure values.
According to him, this has highlighted the scale of threats that could have inflicted devastating damage on human lives and our social ecosystem if permitted to infiltrate our markets.
Today, we formally hand over to NAFDAC a total of 25 containers laden with counterfeit medications, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and prohibited substances, including codeine-based preparations that pose imminent danger to public health.
“These seizures, with an aggregate Duty Paid Value of N9.23 billion, represent a sophisticated network of criminal enterprises that deliberately exploit regulatory gaps to compromise our national health security.
“A detailed breakdown of the seizures reveals disturbing patterns of misdeclaration and systematic attempts to circumvent established import protocols.
“The 25 containers comprise 21 forty-foot containers and 4 twenty-foot containers containing predominantly unregistered pharmaceutical products, including sexual enhancement drugs such as REDSUN and HYEGRA sildenafil citrate products.
“Others are codeine-containing cough syrups including CSC brands, antibiotic injections like oxytetracycline and artesunate, pain relief medications containing diclofenac sodium and paracetamol.
“Among others are skin lightening creams marketed as “Gbogbonise” and Skin Chemist hip and breast enlargement products, and various tablets bearing fake NAFDAC registration numbers,” he noted.
Adeniyi said the seizures also include expired food products such as margarine and chocolate, veterinary medications including albendazole bolus tablets, antimalarial drugs like artepharm-artequick, and consumer goods.
He added that this includes Crusader soap, reflecting a sophisticated and diversified contraband portfolio that poses significant threats to public health, consumer safety, and regulatory integrity.
Adeniyi said their intelligence network and technological capabilities had been significantly enhanced to detect and intercept prohibited items regardless of concealment methods or documentation subterfuge.
He extended special commendation to the operatives at the Apapa Port Command who, through their vigilance, professionalism, and dedication to duty, had successfully executed these complex interdictions, reflecting the core values of our Service and our collective commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders and citizens.
Adeniyi said that it was discovered that some haulage operators, bonded terminal owners, and any other trade facilitators who were complicit in these illegal activities, such persons or companies would face the full weight of the law.
He said that Customs’ intelligence network and technological capabilities had been significantly enhanced to detect and intercept prohibited items regardless of concealment methods or documentation intrigue.
The Assistant Director of NAFDAC in Charge of Ports, representing the Director
-General of NAFDAC, Ayobami Ibrahim, commended Customs’ effort in the fight against illicit substances.
He said that the enforcement directorate of the agency recently confiscated illicit drugs and also arrested economic saboteurs.
“Fake drugs can be detected if they fail laboratory tests.
Some illicit substances find their ways to the market but with the support of Customs, we are able to confiscate them when intercepted.
“I will like to appeal to the public to support in fighting illicit substances through intelligent information,” Ibrahim said.
