The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 12 containers loaded with Tramadol, expired drugs and 27,540 pieces of machetes and cutlasses with a duty paid value of N1.8 billion.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this while uncovering the smuggling in Lagos on Thursday. Mr Adeniyi explained that the expired pharmaceutical products were imported without meeting the necessary regulatory requirements. He added that some of the drugs did not obtain numbers from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“We also have containers that were seized due to false declarations, apparently to evade paying taxes, which amounts to smuggling.
“In total, 12 containers worth N1.8 billion have been seized after duty was paid.
“These imports are in flagrant violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.
“One of the seized containers, a 40-foot container with box number SEGU4339917, was declared as carrying baclofen tablets, metoprolol succinate, atenolol gloves, losartan potassium, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin calcium, esomeprazole magnesium and diclofenac sodium topical gel, among others.
“Upon examination, the container was found to be loaded with daily immune health supplements that expired in July of this year; Acyclovir capsules expired in April 2024; Valsartan tablets (320 mg and 160 mg) expired in June 2024; Prednisone tablets (USP 10 mg) expired in June 2024.
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“Also losartan potassium tablets (100 mg) that expired in June 2024; low dose aspirin major pain reliever (81 mg) that expired in June 2024; vitamin D supplements that expired in June 2024 and magnesium oxide tablets (420 mg) that expired in June 2024.
“The 40-foot container also contained diclofenac sodium topical gel with an expiration date of November 2024; oral rehydration solution mix with an expiration date of July 2024; unimap multiple micronutrient supplements with an expiration date of December 2025 and other regulated medical items,” Adeniyi said.
He said the container examined, like many others seized by the Apapa Customs Command, contained expired and unexpired drugs that did not bear the required NAFDAC numbers.
Mr Adeniyi said another 20-foot container of expired pharmaceuticals was found to contain boxes of Royal Tramadol (225mg) concealed with expired boxes of painkillers, antiseptics and anti-inflammatory tablets without a NAFDAC number.
The customs chief said a 20-foot container containing rolls of Tramadol (225 mg) was also found hidden along with expired boxes of pharmaceuticals Zokomol and Diclofenac without a NAFDAC registration number.
He confirmed that another 20-foot container containing boxes of tramadol (100mg) was found hidden alongside expired boxes of pharmaceutical products without NAFDAC number.
“A 40-foot container containing boxes of codeine was found hidden alongside boxes of expired pharmaceuticals and boxes of brushes.
“Another 40-foot container was found to contain boxes of codeine and tramadol concealed with expired Diacare anti-diarrheal and painkiller pharmaceuticals without a NAFDAC number.
“Similarly, a 40-foot container was found to contain boxes of expired pharmaceutical products without NAFDAC registration number.
“In addition to the pharmaceutical products, there were two 40-foot containers with 15,540 and 12,000 pieces of machetes and cutlasses.
“A total of 27,540 pieces of machetes and cutlasses were found in the two containers,” he said.
Mr Adeniyi commended the Apapa Customs Area Controller, Babatunde Olomu, and officers for their anti-smuggling efforts.
According to him, Apapa Command handles the highest volume of trade for the NCS, collects the highest revenue and therefore has a higher degree of expectations from the management of the Service and the government.
He urged them to maintain the level of performance and advised port users to engage only in legitimate trade.
He reaffirmed that the NCS, under his leadership, was fully committed to its responsibilities in detecting all forms of cover-up.
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The Customs chief said the Service remained dedicated to ensuring that any import shipment or export cargo transiting ports under Customs control was thoroughly screened using our non-intrusive measures (scanning) and physical examinations.
Mr. Adeniyi reiterated that the service would not sacrifice the health and safety of Nigerians and all those living in the country on the altar of trade facilitation.
He said customs officials were meeting expectations by executing the mandate to the fullest.
(YAYA).