Ime Akpan
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has announced the seizure of expired and controlled pharmaceutical products valued N1.8 billion.
The comptroller general of the NCS, Mr Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this at press briefing held in Lagos yesterday.
He aside from being expired items, some of the seized drugs were imported without undergoing the necessary regulatory requirements, such as obtaining a National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) number.
Besides, he said some containers were impounded “due to false declarations, ostensibly to evade duty payments, which amount to smuggling.”
In all, the comptroller general said 12 containers were confiscated adding that the importation “is flagrant violation of Section 233 of the NCS Act, 2023.”
“One of the seized containers, a 1x40ft container with box number SEGU4339917, was declared to contain baclofen tablets, metoprolol succinate, atenolol gloves, losartan potassium, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin calcium, esomeprazole magnesium, diclofenac sodium topical gel, valsartan tablets, losartan potassium, and timolol maleate.
“Upon examination, the container was found to be laden with daily health immune supplements that expired in July this year; acyclovir capsules that expired in April 2024; valsartan tablets (320mg and 160mg) that expired in June 2024; prednisone tablets (USP 10mg) that expired in June 2024; 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; magnesium oxide tablets (420mg) that expired in June 2024; 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.
“In this examined container, as in many others seized by the Apapa Command, the expired and unexpired medicaments did not carry the required NAFDAC number.
“In addition to the expired pharmaceutical products, another 20ft container (No. DFSU 1362498) was found to contain cartons of Royal Tramadol (225mg) concealed with expired cartons of Really Extra analgesic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory tablets without a NAFDAC numbers.
“Another 20ft container (No. PCIU 1934537) was found to contain rolls of tramadol (225mg) concealed with expired cartons of Zokomol and Diclofenac pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC registration number.
“Similarly, a 20ft container (No CAIU 2167874) was found to contain cartons of tramadol (100mg) concealed with expired cartons of pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC number.
“Additionally, a 40ft container (No. SEGU 6326800) was found to contain cartons of codeine concealed with cartons of expired pharmaceutical products and cartons of brushes.
“A 1x40ft container (No. DFSU 7320205) was found to contain cartons of codeine and tramadol concealed with expired Diacare antidiarrheal and Really Extra pain reliever pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC number.
“Another 40ft container (No. TCKU 6880985) was found to contain cartons of expired pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC registration number.
“In addition to the pharmaceutical products, there were two 40ft containers (Nos. CAUU 5699055 and SUAN 8691124) with 15,540 and 12,000 pieces of cutlasses and machetes, respectively. A total of 27,540 pieces of cutlasses and machetes were contained in the two containers.
He said if the items had left the ports they would have undermined the security the country by influencing the behavior of individuals involved in criminal activities, often fueled by illicit drugs such as tramadol.
He said while the NCS is committed to facilitating legitimate trade, “we are equally dedicated to ensuring that any import consignment or export cargo transiting through our ports under customs control is thoroughly checked using our non-intrusive (scanning) measures and physical examinations where necessary.”
Adeniyi advised the port users embrace only legitimate trade and restated that the NCS, under his leadership, “is fully committed to its responsibilities in detecting all forms of concealment.”
The comptroller general commended the comptroller of the Apapa Command, Mr Babatunde Olomu and his officers for the anti-smuggling exploit.
He said the command “handles the highest volume of trade for the NCS, collects the highest revenue, and is therefore saddled with a higher degree of expectation from the management of the service and the government. I urge them to maintain this level of performance.
