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Barely two weeks after the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, displayed 12 containers of seized pharmaceuticals at Apapa Customs Command, another 6 containers of unregistered pharmaceuticals have been intercepted at the nation’s premier port.
The Customs Area Controller, Apapa Customs Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the seizures on Thursday.
His words: “We recently uncovered 6 more containers laden with prohibited items mostly unregistered pharmaceuticals. Other items in the seized containers are cosmetics, used clothing and two vehicles illegally imported into the country. These seizures are worth a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N3,247,427,969.00.
Olomu noted that the seizures can be broken down into three categories; “Category 1 – Cntainer No. SUDU 8685733 (40FT) was found to contain 1,698 of RTPL CSC Cough syrup with codeine concealed in 202 packages of water closet; Container No. MRSU 4846204 (40FT) was found to contain 1,690 cartons of codeine syrup concealed in toilet seat. The two seizures have a street value of N2,710,400.00. Interestingly, these two containers were intercepted as a result of international collaboration as well as local networking with officers and men of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
For Category 2, he disclosed that “Container No. ONEU 1153150 (40 FT) found to contain 1,584 packages of Globatin anti-marks & 30g Clobetasol cream falsely declared as TRUCK TYRES and Container No. MRSU 3258823 (40 FT) was found to contain Rabeprazole, for injection, 25mg Zahifranil tablets, 1000mg vancomycine hydrochloride, ciprophetadine with vitamin B complex, and other pharmaceutical products without NAFDAC registration number, falsely declared as kitchen wares and tables.
In Category 3; there was “Container No. MRKU 0904594 (40 FT) found to contain two stolen vehicles from Canada. A 2024 model Lexus RX 450 vehicle with chasis number JTJCJNGA6R2017707 and another 2023 Lexus RX 350 with chasis number 2T2BAMCAPCO32741 falsely declared as food items and another container No. SEKU 4716830 (40 FT) was found to contain 390 bales of used clothing which contravenes the import prohibition law.”
The Apapa Customs boss stressed that although the Service is primarily focused on facilitating trade and collecting revenue for government, the NCS still owes the Nigerian citizens the duty of protecting them from dangerous imports that are injurious to their health and wellbeing.
“We are determined to avoid making Nigerians vulnerable to the selfish interests of merchant of death whose stock in trade is to bring in harmful substances. We also intercepted two cars stolen from Canada that was attempted to be smuggled into Nigeria,” Comptroller Olomu posited.
While receiving the unregistered pharmaceuticals, representative of the Nigeria Drug Law Enfield Agency (NDLEA), AC Buba Wakawa, acknowledged that the seizures were aided by international collaborations.
He noted that most codeine products are manufactured in India, hence the agency has communicated with the country and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with India to stop production of codeine for Nigeria.
Wakawa expressed optimism that with enhanced interagency collaboration agencies at Nigerian seaports will be better placed to curb the influx of unregistered pharmaceuticals into the country.
