The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) seized 16 containers filled with illegal drugs worth a staggering $20.5 billion in what officials claim is one of the largest pharmaceutical interceptions in recent years.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, who led journalists through the inspection of the intercepted items during a press briefing at the Customs Area 2 Command Headquarters, announced the seizure Friday at the Onne Port in Rivers State.
In an effort to avoid being discovered, Adeniyi claimed that the containers, 11 of which contained dangerous and unregistered drugs, were hidden beneath layers of legitimate consumer goods like tomato paste, ceiling fans, plumbing materials, and even car parts. Over 1.3 million bottles of Codeine syrup, 12.6 million tablets of Tapentadol/Tramadol, and a number of other unregulated prescription drugs with high abuse potential were included in the illegal contents.
Adeniyi said, “This is a calculated attempt to exploit Nigeria’s trade channels and flood the market with potentially dangerous substances,” citing the potential catastrophic harm to public health.
Intelligence-Led Interception
According to him, the Customs’ intensified intelligence-led enforcement efforts were the result of close cooperation with other national regulatory bodies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Office of the National Security Advisor.
The organization conducted what it called targeted interdictions at high-risk corridors and port entrances, efforts that culminated in the intercept of these 16 containers, which were supported by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Parmi the seized drugs on file were: 1, 301, 000 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml), 9.3 million bottles of Really Extra Diclofenac, 12.6 million bottles of Trodol (225mg), 210, 000 bottles of Hyergra (200mg), 717, 360 bottles of Bisoveu, and 2.2 million bottles of Bassuka (50mg), respectively.
Adeniyi compared the drugs to “moles that were hidden beneath things like 118 ceiling fans, 97, 200 tomato paste cans, 2, 610 plumbing fixtures, and even 2, 268 Smart Tech vehicle parts.” This level of concealment demonstrates how sophisticated smuggling syndicates are getting.
Threat to national security and public health
The Customs boss warned that the unregulated distribution of these drugs could lead to an increase in drug addiction, worsen Nigeria’s public health crisis, and bolster criminal networks that thrive on the illegal drug trade.
“Unregulated drugs compromise treatment outcomes and lead to public safety being destroyed. This poses a threat to national security beyond just a health issue.
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NAFDAC Applauds Customs’ Vigilance
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the NAFDAC Director-General, praised the Customs for their accomplishments at the event. She referred to the seizure as a “critical line of defense” against the entry of dangerous goods into homes and pharmacies in Nigeria.
They must maintain vigilance on the frontline of import control. If allowed in, these products could have caused astronomical harm to our communities,” she claimed.
Adeyeye promised that NAFDAC would carry out thorough laboratory analyses of the seized pharmaceuticals and adhere to stringent regulatory standards for distribution, inspection, and certification.
A Consensus for Smugglers
The Customs Comptroller-General’s stern warning to smuggling networks operating within and around Nigeria’s borders came to an end.
Let’s make it known that criminal activity cannot enter Nigeria’s borders. We will use the full force of the law to prosecute violators.
Source: Channels TV
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