The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, alongside the Controller of Apapa Port, Babatunde Olomu, C., the Tincan Island Port Area Command, Comptroller FO Onyeka, and other senior officers, officially handed over 25 confiscated containers valued at over N9.2 billion to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at Apapa Port. This was part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal importation activities.

The seized containers, comprising 21 full-sized 40-foot units and four 20-foot units, were found to contain unregistered and prohibited pharmaceutical products, raising serious concerns over public health and regulatory lapses. Among the confiscated items were:

• Sexual enhancement drugs like REDSUN and HYEGRA (sildenafil citrate-based)
• Codeine-laden cough syrups, including CSC brands
• Antibiotic injections such as oxytetracycline and artesunate
• Pain relief medications containing diclofenac sodium and paracetamol
• Skin-lightening creams marketed as GBOGBONISE and SKIN CHEMIST
• Products claiming to enhance hips and breasts
• Tablets bearing counterfeit NAFDAC registration numbers

Addressing journalists at the scene, during the handover, Adeniyi emphasised the sophistication and seriousness of these illicit trade networks. He stated, “The persistent smuggling of illicit, substandard, and expired medications into Nigeria exemplifies a highly organised criminal enterprise exploiting regulatory gaps to threaten our national health security.”

A detailed breakdown of the seizures reveals troubling patterns of misdeclaration and systematic efforts to bypass established customs protocols. The Customs boss highlighted that these containers also included expired food items, veterinary drugs like albendazole tablets, antimalarials such as Artequick, and consumer products like Crusader soap, each posing significant health risks.

Despite these challenges, Adeniyi reassured the public that the Nigeria Customs Service remains resolute in making ports and borders difficult terrain for smugglers and criminal importers. He credited the agency’s enhanced intelligence-driven enforcement strategies, combined with real-time cooperation with regulatory bodies like NAFDAC, for significantly strengthening operational effectiveness.

“Our partnership with NAFDAC is a strategic example of collaboration at its best. Thanks to critical intelligence, even late-night information sharing has proved pivotal in our anti-smuggling efforts,” he said.

Adeniyi also disclosed that an additional N1.6 billion in revenue is expected to be recovered by month’s end, thanks to recent audits and enforcement actions. The Post Clearance Audit unit, established earlier this year and led by an Assistant General of Customs, has been actively reviewing declarations, flagging violations, and ensuring compliance with laws.

He emphasised that enforcement will be firm and decisive: “Some bonded terminals will face closure and license revocations. Our goal is to uphold the integrity of trade laws and boost revenue while safeguarding public health.”

The Customs CG assured that with continued collaboration and stringent enforcement, Nigeria will keep combating illicit imports and safeguarding its borders effectively.