The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized expired and controlled pharmaceutical products worth N1.8 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos. The seizure, which includes tramadol, codeine, and other regulated medical items, was made by the Apapa Command of the NCS.
According to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the seized items were imported without undergoing the necessary regulatory requirements, such as obtaining a National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) number.
“We will never sacrifice the health and security of Nigerians and everyone living in our country on the altar of trade facilitation,” Adeniyi said. “Our officers are living up to expectations by executing our mandate to the fullest.”
The seizure includes 12 containers, with one container containing daily health immune supplements that expired in July this year, acyclovir capsules that expired in April 2024, and valsartan tablets that expired in June 2024.
In addition to the pharmaceutical products, two containers were found to contain 27,540 pieces of cutlasses and machetes.
Adeniyi commended the Customs Area Controller for Apapa Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, and his officers for the anti-smuggling exploit.
“I want to specially commend Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller for Apapa Command, and the officers working with him for this anti-smuggling exploit,” Adeniyi said.
The Apapa Command handles the highest volume of trade for the NCS and collects the highest revenue. Adeniyi urged them to maintain this level of performance.
“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,” Adeniyi said.