Customs Burst: Illicit Drugs, Expired and Fake Pharmaceutical Medical Products Intercepted with DPV #53.39 Billion

By Stella Okocha 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded yet another great fit in anti-smuggling operations by intercepting illicit drugs, expired pharmaceuticals and fake medical products with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N53.39 billion at the Apapa Port in Lagos.

These major seizures mark one of its biggest anti-smuggling operations at the Apapa port, aimed at protecting public health and strengthening national security.

Speaking at the formal handover of the seized consignments at the Apapa Area Command on Wednesday, Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, said the seizures were made through intelligence gathering, non-intrusive inspection technology, cargo scanning, physical examination and sustained collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The CGC also said the cumulative Duty Paid Value of the nine seizures stood at N53,391,140,029, noting that the significance of the operation extended beyond its monetary value.

“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 said.

The Customs boss also told the press that the collaboration from both agencies led to the interception of nine containers carrying large quantities of cannabis, codeine syrup, expired pharmaceutical products and fake medicines fraudulently imported into Nigeria through the nation’s busiest seaport.

Among the seizures were two 40-foot containers loaded with Cannabis Sativa (Canadian Loud) concealed alongside imported vehicles, household items and automobile spare parts. One container contained 3,639 parcels weighing 1,819.5 kilograms, while another held 9,918 sachets weighing approximately 4.95 metric tonnes.

Two containers conveying 339,800 bottles of Codeine Syrup, concealed inside cartons of insulated casserole dishes in an apparent attempt to evade detection, were also intercepted by Customs officers.

Three additional containers also contain expired pharmaceutical products, including Tramadol, Oxytocin injections, Carbamazepine tablets, Cloxicillin capsules, Vitamin B12 injections and B-Complex injections. Another container was laden with Piccan Teething Powder for regulatory action.

Customs further uncovered a container carrying 1,100 packages of CHACOLD Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules bearing a fake NAFDAC registration number. Adeniyi said detailed verification confirmed that the product was not registered by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), exposing an attempt to smuggle unregistered pharmaceutical products into the Nigerian market.

Adeniyi announced that all narcotic drugs seized would be formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while expired and fake pharmaceutical products would be transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action and safe disposal.

He added that vehicles, spare parts and other legitimate goods used to conceal the prohibited items would remain in Customs custody pending forfeiture, revenue recovery and other enforcement actions under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

He highlighted that the sophisticated concealment methods adopted by criminal syndicates reflects growing attempts to exploit legitimate trade channels but stressed that the Nigeria Customs Service now possesses the intelligence capability, technological capacity and operational readiness to detect, intercept and dismantle such networks.

He warned that Nigerian ports were no longer safe routes for traffickers of illicit drugs, expired medicines and other prohibited imports, declaring that the Service would continue to intercept, investigate and prosecute offenders while protecting the economy, public health and national security.

“We shall continue to intercept, expose and prosecute all those who threaten our economy, compromise public health or undermine the security of our nation. Together with our partner agencies, we remain steadfast in protecting our borders, facilitating legitimate trade, preserving the health of our citizens and securing the future of our country” the CGC stated.

He commended officers of the Apapa Area Command and partner agencies for their professionalism and vigilance, and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, technology-driven cargo inspection and stronger inter-agency collaboration to secure Nigeria’s borders and facilitate legitimate trade.

Representing the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), CON, OFR, the Director of Seaport Operations, ACGN Ibinabo Archiea Abia Ogoba, described the handover as a landmark in the growing operational synergy between the NDLEA and the NCS.

Ogoba disclosed that the seizures followed more than four months of intelligence gathering and marine surveillance conducted by the NDLEA’s Special Investigation Unit and Marine Intelligence Unit in collaboration with international partners, particularly the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

“Officers tracked the illicit consignments from Canada through multiple trans-shipment points before intercepting the containers during joint operations involving the NDLEA, the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies at the Lagos ports,” the NDLEA boss said.