The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recently intercepted 12 containers loaded with various contraband items, including Tramadol, expired drugs, and 27,540 pieces of cutlasses and machetes. The duty-paid value of these seized items is estimated to be N1.8 billion.
This significant seizure was unveiled by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, during a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday. Adeniyi emphasized that the expired pharmaceutical products were imported without adhering to the necessary regulatory procedures.
He added that some of the drugs did not obtain a National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) numbers.
“We also have containers that were seized due to false declarations, ostensibly to evade duty payments, which amount to smuggling.
“In total, 12 containers have been seized with duty paid value worth N1.8bilion.
“These importations are in flagrant violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.
“One of the seized containers, a 40ft container with box number SEGU4339917, was declared to contain 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 laden with daily health immune supplements that expired in July this year; acyclovir capsules have expired in April 2024; valsartan tablets (320mg and 160mg) have expired in June 2024; prednisone tablets (USP 10mg) have expired in June 2024.
“Also losartan potassium tablets (100mg) that expired in June 2024; major aspirin low-dose pain reliever (81mg) that expired in June 2024; vitamin D supplements that expired in June 2024 and magnesium oxide tablets (420mg) that expired in June 2024.
“The 40ft container also contained 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,” Adeniyi said.
He said that in the examined container, as in many others seized by the Apapa Customs Command the expired and unexpired medicaments, did not carry the required NAFDAC number.
Adeniyi said that another 20ft container with expired pharmaceutical products, was found to contain cartons of Royal Tramadol (225mg) concealed with expired cartons of analgesic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory tablets without a NAFDAC number.
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