Customs Chief Showcases N1.8B Worth of Seized Expired Drugs, Warns Against Dangerous Imports

Customs Chief Showcases N1.8B Worth of Seized Expired Drugs, Warns Against Dangerous Imports

The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has showcased tramadol seizures, expired and unregistered pharmaceutical products worth N1.8 billion at Apapa Port.

The CGC, who showcased the items during a press briefing on Thursday, 15 August 2024, highlighted the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) resolve to prevent any importation that could be detrimental to the health and well-being of Nigerians.

His words, “While our commitment to facilitating legitimate trade remains unwavering, we are equally dedicated to ensuring that any import consignment or export cargo transiting through our ports under customs control is thoroughly checked using our non-intrusive (scanning) measures and physical examinations where necessary”.

“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. 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 seized due to false declarations, ostensibly to evade duty payments, which amounts to smuggling”, he explained.

The Customs Boss noted that, in total, 12 containers were seized and in flagrant violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.

In addition to the pharmaceutical products, there were two 40ft containers with 15,540 and 12,000 pieces of cutlasses and machetes. A total of 27,540 pieces of cutlasses and machetes were contained in the two containers.

The CGC advised port users to remain compliant and vowed to run importers of illicit items out of business.

“Port containers are on parade today, the owners of these truck containers, we are going to run them out of business and use them as a deterrent to others who still believe they can doubt our resilience and our commitment to rid Nigeria of dangerous products and prohibited items”, he stated.

He commended the response of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu and all his officers and men for responding adequately to the challenge he had thrown at them. “They have shown commitment and passion, and they have shown that they can indeed be counted when we are talking about patriotic Nigerians”.