The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 25 containers loaded with illicit drugs, unregistered pharmaceuticals, and adulterated products, with a total duty-paid value of N9.2 billion. The seizure was made at the Apapa Port in Lagos and officially handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, expressed concern over the alarming influx of dangerous substances, warning that the Service may begin reviewing the operational licenses of bonded terminals implicated in recent trade infractions.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Adeniyi said the successful interdiction was a product of the strategic collaboration between NCS and NAFDAC, bolstered by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November 2024 and the subsequent inauguration of a joint implementation committee.
“This partnership has enabled both agencies to conduct coordinated operations and joint investigations, tracing the sources of illicit pharmaceuticals and executing targeted enforcement actions against criminal networks,” Adeniyi said.
He stressed that inter-agency collaboration and intelligence-sharing are central to the Service’s enforcement philosophy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“As a Service, we remain committed to making our seaports, airports, and land borders impenetrable to smuggling operations through our nationwide anti-contraband initiatives,” he said. “Our intelligence-led enforcement strategy, enhanced by real-time collaboration with regulatory agencies, has fundamentally transformed our operational capabilities.”
The CGC disclosed that the intercepted containers were loaded with counterfeit medications, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and prohibited substances, including codeine-based preparations that pose a severe threat to public health.
“These seizures, with an aggregate duty-paid value of N9,235,402,973.00, represent a sophisticated network of criminal enterprises exploiting regulatory gaps to undermine national health security,” he added.
Adeniyi also highlighted the unwavering collaboration between the Customs, NAFDAC, and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), noting that joint operations—under the coordination of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA)—have resulted in the seizure of over 200 containers, with unregistered pharmaceutical products accounting for 63.7% of the total seizure value.
He commended officers of the Apapa Port Command for their vigilance, professionalism, and dedication, which led to the successful interdiction of the containers.
“This operation reflects the core values of the Nigeria Customs Service and our collective commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders, economy, and the lives of our citizens,” Adeniyi concluded.