The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday in a major crackdown on illicit pharmaceutical imports formally handed over 25 containers laden with counterfeit and unregistered pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at Apapa Port, Lagos.
The seizure, described as one of the most significant anti-smuggling victories in recent times, carries a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over ₦9.2 billion, and includes a disturbing mix of prohibited codeine-based syrups, sexual enhancement drugs, skin-lightening creams, expired food items, and veterinary products, all smuggled in through fraudulent declarations.
Speaking at the handover, the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, declared the operation a powerful testament to the inter-agency collaboration between NCS and NAFDAC, made possible by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November 2024 and operationalized by a dedicated implementation committee.
“Today’s handover is not just ceremonial it is a bold statement against those who endanger our public health for illicit profit. These seizures reflect the strength of intelligence-led enforcement and the shared will to dismantle criminal networks exploiting Nigeria’s trade systems,” CGC Adeniyi stated.
A breakdown of the seizures revealed 21 forty-foot and 4 twenty-foot containers smuggled under false declarations. Items found include:
- Codeine-containing cough syrups (CSC brands)
- Sexual enhancement tablets such as REDSUN and HYEGRA (sildenafil citrate)
- Antibiotic injection (oxytetracycline, artesunate)
- Skin-lightening creams and enhancement products
- Fake-labelled drugs and consumer goods including crusader soaps and expired chocolates
- Veterinary and antimalarial products smuggled without proper registration
According to CGC Adeniyi, 63.7% of total pharmaceutical seizures nationwide now consist of unregistered or counterfeit drugs, posing a direct threat to millions of lives and to Nigeria’s national health security.
“This is not merely an economic crime. It is a direct attack on public health, on our children, our families, and the future of this nation,” he said.
The Customs chief praised the operational synergy between NCS and NAFDAC, commending NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, for her “round-the-clock intelligence sharing”, which proved decisive in intercepting the contraband.
“This level of inter-agency cooperation sharing real-time data, working joint operations, and swiftly acting on tip-offs is the future of border security,” CGC Adeniyi noted.
He also acknowledged the critical role of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in ongoing efforts to rid Nigerian markets of “merchants of death.”
The CGC issued a stern warning to all actors in the international trade chain importers, freight forwarders, bonded terminal owners, and transporters stating that any complicity in criminal smuggling operations will be met with full legal consequences.
@Let me read the Riot Act clearly: We will seize, arrest, investigate, and prosecute anyone found aiding these illegal activities. No one will be spared,”he declared.
The CGC specially recognized the Apapa Port Command operatives for their vigilance, professionalism, and execution of complex interdictions, noting that their actions reflect the core values of the Nigeria Customs Service and its unwavering dedication to protecting the nation’s borders.
“This is more than a handoverit’s a commitment to the Nigerian people that we will not relent in protecting their health, their markets, and their future,” the CGC concluded.
As these 25 seized containers are transferred to NAFDAC for proper disposal and further investigation, the ceremony underscores the urgent need for sustained vigilance, regulatory integrity, and enforcement intelligence in Nigeria’s import ecosystem.
The Nigeria Customs Service has vowed to remain uncompromising in its mission to shield Nigerians from the dangers of fake, expired, and harmful products, warning that those who compromise the health of the nation will face the full weight of the law.
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