By Peace Udugba
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted nine containers laden with narcotic drugs, expired pharmaceuticals and unregistered medicines with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦53.39 billion at the Apapa Area Command.
Speaking during the handover of the seized items to relevant regulatory agencies on Wednesday in Lagos, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the seizures underscored the Service’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from dangerous drugs and other illicit imports.
Adeniyi explained that the interceptions followed painstaking intelligence gathering, non-intrusive inspection, scanning analysis, physical examination and close collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
According to him, the seizures included two 40-foot containers loaded with large quantities of Cannabis Sativa concealed alongside imported vehicles, household goods and automobile spare parts. One container contained 3,639 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Canadian Loud) weighing 1,819.5 kilograms, while another concealed 9,918 sachets of the substance weighing about 4.95 metric tonnes.
The Customs boss also disclosed that officers intercepted two containers carrying 3,398 cartons, equivalent to 339,800 bottles, of Codeine Syrup, hidden inside cartons of insulated casserole dishes.
PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EVENT
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In addition, three containers were found to contain thousands of cartons of expired pharmaceutical products, including Tramadol (Timakadol), Oxytocin injections, Mexclor Eye Drops, Carbamazepine tablets, Cloxicillin capsules, Vitamin B12 injections and B-Complex injections.
Another container was intercepted with Piccan Teething Powder, while a separate container carried 1,100 packages of CHACOLD Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules bearing a fake National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration number and counterfeit documentation.
Adeniyi said detailed verification confirmed that the medicine was not registered with NAFDAC, describing the shipment as a deliberate attempt to smuggle unregistered pharmaceutical products into the Nigerian market.
“The use of fake registration numbers and supporting documents clearly indicates a deliberate attempt to endanger public health. The consignment has therefore been seized in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and will be handed over to NAFDAC for further investigation and regulatory action,” he said.
The Comptroller-General noted that beyond their monetary value, the seizures represented lives saved, families protected and communities secured from the devastating effects of drug abuse and unsafe medicines.
He warned that the importation of expired pharmaceuticals and controlled substances posed a serious threat to public health, adding that criminal syndicates were increasingly exploiting legitimate trade channels through sophisticated concealment methods.
According to him, the successful interceptions demonstrated the Nigeria Customs Service’s growing intelligence capability, technological capacity and operational readiness to detect and dismantle transnational smuggling networks.
Adeniyi announced that all narcotic drugs seized would be formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while the expired and unregistered pharmaceutical products would be transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action and safe disposal.
He clarified that where narcotics and pharmaceuticals were concealed alongside vehicles, spare parts and other imported goods, only the prohibited items would be transferred, while the remaining goods would remain in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service pending the conclusion of investigations.
The Customs boss reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to strengthening border security, facilitating legitimate trade and collaborating with partner agencies to combat smuggling and protect public health.
He added that the NCS would continue to intercept, expose and prosecute individuals and criminal syndicates involved in trafficking illicit drugs and other prohibited items into the country.
