The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced on Thursday that it intercepted expired and controlled pharmaceutical products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of NGN 1.8 billion, illegally imported into Lagos Port.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos while unveiling the seizures to newsmen.
He revealed that the illicit drugs include tramadol, codeine, and other pharmaceuticals, none of which had registration numbers from regulatory authorities.
Adeniyi warned that if these drugs had exited the ports, they would have severely compromised the security of the nation by influencing the behavior of individuals involved in criminal activities, often fueled by illicit drugs such as tramadol.
Beyond being expired, some of the seized drugs were imported without fulfilling necessary regulatory requirements, such as obtaining a National Agency for Food and 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 40ft 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.
“However, 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.
“Other items include 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; Unimap multiple micronutrient supplements expiring in December 2025, and other regulated medical items,” he explained.
According to him, like many other containers seized by the Apapa Command, the expired and unexpired medicaments did not have the required NAFDAC number.
“In addition to the expired pharmaceutical products, another 20ft container (No. DFSU 1362498) was found to contain cartons of Royal Tramadol (225mg) concealed with expired cartons of Really Extra analgesic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory tablets, all without a NAFDAC number.
“Another 20ft container (No. PCIU 1934537) was found to contain rolls of tramadol (225mg) concealed with expired cartons of Zokomol and Diclofenac pharmaceutical products, also without a NAFDAC registration number.
Similarly, a 20ft container (No. CAIU 2167874) was found to contain cartons of tramadol (100mg) concealed with expired cartons of pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC number,” he added.
Additionally, he disclosed that a 40ft container (No. SEGU 6326800) was found to contain cartons of codeine concealed with cartons of expired pharmaceutical products and cartons of brushes.
He also noted that a 40ft container (No. DFSU 7320205) was found to contain cartons of codeine and tramadol concealed with expired Diacare antidiarrheal and Really Extra pain reliever pharmaceutical products, none of which had a NAFDAC number.
“Another 40ft container (No. TCKU 6880985) was found to contain cartons of expired pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC registration number.
In addition to the pharmaceutical products, there were two 40ft containers (Nos. CAUU 5699055 and SUAN 8691124) with 15,540 and 12,000 pieces of cutlasses and machetes, respectively. A total of 27,540 pieces of cutlasses and machetes were contained in these two containers.
“I want to especially commend Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller for Apapa Command, and the officers working with him for this anti-smuggling exploit.
The Apapa Command handles the highest volume of trade for the NCS, collects the highest revenue, and is therefore saddled with a higher degree of expectation from the management of the Service and the government. I urge them to maintain this level of performance,” he stated.
He also urged port users to engage only in legitimate trade, reiterating that the NCS, under his leadership, is fully committed to its responsibilities in detecting all forms of concealment.
