Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command has intercepted 12 containers laden with expired pharmaceutical products valued at N1.8 billion.
Also, the service impounded two 40 feet containers laden with with 27, 540 pieces of cutlasses and machetes.
Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who disclosed this in Lagos on Thursday when he paid a working visit to the command explained that the seizures made by officers and men at the Apapa port command, comprises expired and controlled pharmaceutical products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.8 billion.
He noted that the items, if allowed to exit the ports, would undermine the security of the nation by influencing the behaviour of individuals involved in criminal activities, often fueled by illicit drugs such as tramadol.
He added: “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 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 1x40ft 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.”
Upon examination, Adeniyi stressed that 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) expired in June 2024.
He said: “Prednisone tablets (USP 10mg) that expired in June 2024; losartan potassium tablets (100mg) in June 2024; 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.
“In this examined container, as in many others seized by the Apapa Command, the expired and unexpired medicaments did not carry 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 without a NAFDAC number.”
He added that another 20 feet container was found to contain rolls of tramadol (225mg) concealed with expired cartons of Zokomol and Diclofenac pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC registration number.
Similarly, Adeniyi said that a 20 feet container was found to contain cartons of tramadol (100mg) concealed with expired cartons of pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC number.
Adeniyi advised port users to embrace only legitimate trade and restated that the NCS, under my leadership, is fully committed to its responsibilities in detecting all forms of concealment.
