In a major anti-smuggling breakthrough, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in collaboration with other security agencies, have intercepted 16 containers laden with illicit pharmaceutical products valued at over ₦20.5 billion at the Port Harcourt II Area Command, Onne.
The announcement was made by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Onne, Rivers State, on Friday, July 18, 2025. He linked the success of the operation to intelligence-driven enforcement and the strengthened partnership among national regulatory and enforcement agencies following the implementation of the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NCS and NAFDAC.
“Our anti-smuggling operations align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy on border security, public health, and national safety. We remain committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s borders are not exploited by criminal elements,” the CGC stated.
Adeniyi revealed that the smugglers had disguised the illegal drugs as legitimate goods, including tomato paste, ceiling fans, and plumbing materials, in what he described as “sophisticated concealment tactics.”
Items recovered from the seized containers include 1.3 million bottles of Codeine syrup (100ml each), 9.3 million tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac, 12.6 million tablets of Royal Tramadol (225mg), and other unregistered and hazardous drugs such as Trodol, Hyergra, Bisoveu, and Bassuka.
“This seizure sends a clear message to criminal networks: the Nigeria Customs Service, in partnership with our enforcement counterparts, maintains zero tolerance for smuggling. We will bring the full weight of the law to bear on all perpetrators,” Adeniyi emphasized.
The seized containers were formally handed over to Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, for further regulatory actions.
In her remarks, Professor Adeyeye condemned the smugglers, stressing the grave threat the intercepted drugs posed to public health. “Frankly, it was shocking. These products could destroy lives: Codeine, Tramadol, and counterfeit painkillers. The fact that some were hidden in tomato paste shows clear criminal intent. This isn’t business; this is murder for profit,” she declared.
She assured the public that NAFDAC would follow all due procedures, including laboratory testing, documentation, and destruction of the illicit items. “We are WHO-certified, with international-standard laboratories and well-trained personnel. These products will never make it into the Nigerian market,” she stated.
Professor Adeyeye labeled the importers of such products as “merchants of death,” vowing that Nigeria would not serve as a dumping ground for substandard or falsified medicines.
The Customs Area Controller of PH II Onne Command, Comptroller Muhammed Babandede, described the seizure as a historic milestone in inter-agency cooperation. He acknowledged the roles of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), among others.
According to Babandede, the seizure comprised eleven 40-foot containers of illicit pharmaceuticals, four micro containers of bottled water, and one container of salt, all of which were part of an elaborate attempt to bypass regulatory checks.
“This success reflects the strength of our collaboration, which aligns with the Service’s policy of unity through cooperation, consolidation, and innovation,” he said.
The Onne seizure follows another major interception at Apapa Port last week, where 25 containers of substandard medical devices were impounded.
All agencies involved in the Onne operation have reaffirmed their commitment to enhanced intelligence-sharing, surveillance, and enforcement operations to protect national health and security in line with global best practices.