The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered an attempt to smuggle unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country using a counterfeit registration number belonging to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this on Wednesday during the handover of seized narcotic drugs and expired pharmaceutical products valued at N53.4 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and NAFDAC at the Apapa Area Command.
Adeniyi revealed that one of the intercepted consignments contained 1,100 packages of CHACOLD Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules bearing a fake NAFDAC registration number, accompanied by forged documents intended to make the products appear legally approved.
According to him, preliminary inspection suggested the shipment was genuine, but further verification confirmed that the medicines had never been registered by NAFDAC.
“The use of a fake registration number and supporting documentation clearly indicates a deliberate attempt to smuggle unregistered pharmaceutical products into the Nigerian market, thereby posing a serious risk to public health,” he said.
The Customs boss explained that the discovery formed part of nine major seizures recently recorded by the Apapa Area Command through intelligence gathering, cargo scanning, physical examination and collaboration with the NDLEA.
He said the intercepted consignments included cannabis, codeine syrup, expired medicines and other prohibited items concealed inside containers arriving through Nigeria’s busiest seaport.
Among the seizures were two 40-foot containers carrying Cannabis Sativa hidden alongside imported vehicles, automobile spare parts and household goods.
According to Adeniyi, one of the containers contained 3,639 parcels of cannabis weighing 1,819.5 kilograms, while the second held 9,918 sachets with a combined weight of approximately 4.95 metric tonnes.
Customs officers also intercepted two separate containers containing 3,398 cartons, equivalent to 339,800 bottles, of codeine syrup concealed inside consignments of insulated casserole dishes and other household items.
The service further seized three containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products, including Tramadol, Oxytocin injections, Carbamazepine tablets, Cloxicillin capsules, Vitamin B12 injections and B-Complex injections.
Another container carrying Piccan Teething Powder was also intercepted during the enforcement operation.
Adeniyi said the successful interceptions highlight the Nigeria Customs Service’s determination to safeguard public health, strengthen national security and secure the nation’s borders through intelligence-led operations.
“These seizures represent far more than monetary value. They represent lives protected, families preserved, communities secured and countless young Nigerians shielded from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and unsafe medicines,” he stated.
He announced that all narcotic drugs recovered during the operations had been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while the expired pharmaceutical products would be transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action and safe destruction.
The Comptroller-General added that the vehicles, automobile spare parts and other items used to conceal the prohibited goods would remain in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service pending forfeiture proceedings, condemnation, revenue recovery and other enforcement actions in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
