Customs intercept N1.8bn contraband drugs in Lagos
Customs
Customs intercept N1.8bn contraband drugs in Lagos
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Nigeria Customs Service has seized a substantial amount of illegal drugs and expired pharmaceutical products valued at N1.8 billion at Apapa Port, Lagos State.
The seizure, which took place over an undisclosed period, included a variety of contraband items such as fake antibiotics, expired medications, and other illicit substances.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi while unveiling the seizures to journalists during a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday underscored that the successful operation by his officers highlights the ongoing efforts of the NCS to combat the smuggling and distribution of counterfeit and expired drugs within the country, noting that by intercepting the dangerous products, the NCS has prevented them from reaching the market and potentially harming unsuspecting consumers.
He said, “Today, I am here to present seizures made by our officers at the Apapa Port Command, which comprise expired and controlled pharmaceutical products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of NGN 1.8 billion. Allow me to explain that these items, if allowed to exit the ports, would undermine the security of our dear nation by influencing the behaviour of individuals involved in criminal activities, often fueled by illicit drugs such as tramadol.
“Aside from being expired, some of the seized drugs were imported without undergoing the necessary regulatory requirements, such as obtaining a National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) number. We also have containers that were seized due to false declarations, ostensibly to evade duty payments, which amounts to smuggling. In total, 12 containers have been seized. These importations are in flagrant violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.
“One of the seized containers, a 1x40ft container with box number SEGU4339917, was declared to contain baclofen tablets, metoprolol succinate, atenolol gloves, losartan potassium, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin calcium, esomeprazole magnesium, diclofenac sodium topical gel, valsartan tablets, losartan potassium, and timolol maleate.
“Upon examination, the container was found to be laden with daily health immune supplements that expired in July this year; acyclovir capsules that expired in April 2024; valsartan tablets (320mg and 160mg) that expired in June 2024; prednisone tablets (USP 10mg) that expired in June 2024; losartan potassium tablets (100mg) that expired in June 2024; major aspirin low-dose pain reliever (81mg) that expired in June 2024; vitamin D supplements that expired in June 2024; magnesium oxide tablets (420mg) that expired in June 2024; diclofenac sodium topical gel expiring in November 2024; oral rehydration solution mix that expired in July 2024; unmap multiple micronutrient supplements expiring in December 2025, and other regulated medical items.”
Furthermore, he noted that in the examined container, as in many others seized by the Apapa Command, the expired and unexpired medicaments did not carry the required National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control number.
However, Adeniyi affirmed that the NCS remains committed to safeguarding public health and safety by disrupting the supply chain of counterfeit and substandard pharmaceutical products in Nigeria and advised the port users to embrace legal trades.
“Let me advise our port users to embrace only legitimate trade and restate that the NCS, under my leadership, is fully committed to its responsibilities in detecting all forms of concealment,” he added.
