The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has announced the seizure of 12 containers containing several expired drugs worth N1.8bn. According to him, the seizure was carried out by the Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command. He disclosed that most of the products were controlled pharmaceutical products.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi announced the success on Thursday while displaying some of the products at the command in Apapa, Lagos; most of the products displayed were contraband products.
He explained that if the drugs go into the country, the intake will undermine the security of the nation by influencing the attitude and behaviours of the individuals who consume them; he noted that such incidents could lead to criminal activities. He explained that the intake of illicit drugs influences most criminals.
The CGC noted that some of the drugs imported did not go through the adequate protocol established by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, such that the drugs did not have NAFDAC control numbers.
He explained that the owners faithfully declared some of the containers seized to invade the payment of duty; he noted such an attitude was seen as smuggling.
Proving the details of the total containers seized, the CGC noted that 12 containers were collected, explaining that the importation of the products has gone against section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
In providing specific details, the CGC explained that one of the containers is a 40-foot container with the number SEGU4339917. The owner has declared the container 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, by search by the men on duty it was discovered that it was carrying some bodily health immune supplements that had expired since July 2024.
Some other products in the container were Acyclovir capsules that expired in April 2024; valsartan tablets (320mg and 160mg) that expired in June 2024; prednisone tablets 10mg that expired in June 2024; losartan potassium tablets (100mg) that expired in June 2024
The CGC listed some of the products as magnesium oxide tablets 420mg, which have expired since June 2024. Other items include Major aspirin low-dose pain reliever 81mg, which expired in June 2024; vitamin D supplements, which expired in June 2024;
The custom-sized Diclofenac sodium topical gel, which is billed to expire in November 2024; the oral rehydration solution mix, which has been past its useable date since July 2024; and the unmap multiple micronutrient supplements, which will expire in December 2025.
In the seizure, the customs boss disclosed that another container which is 20ft numbered DFSU 1362498, was found containing cartons of Royal Tramadol 225mg. The importer put the controlled drugs in expired cartons of Really Extra Analgesic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory tablets without a NAFDAC number
Another 20ft with registration number PCIU 1934537 container was found with 225mg of tramadol packaged with expired cartons of pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC registration number.
The third container with registration number CAIU 2167874 which is 20 ft was found with 100mg of cartons of tramadol packaged with with expired cartons of pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC number
The fourth container, which is 40ft and marked with the number SEGU 6326800, was seized. It contained cartons of codeine concealed with cartons of expired pharmaceutical products and cartons of brushes. He noted that the products were without a NAFDAC number.
Other containers numbered intercepted with CAUU 5699055 and SUAN 8691124 were found carrying 15,540 and 12,000 pieces of cutlasses, respectively. A total of 27,540 pieces of cutlasses were contained in the two containers he said.
The CGC appreciated the men of the command for their cooperation and fight smuggling in the country. He noted that the command had being steadfast on receiving revenue in for the country.
