The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered an attempt to smuggle unregistered pharmaceutical products into the country using a fake registration number belonging to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this during the handover of seized narcotics and expired pharmaceutical products valued at N53.39 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and NAFDAC at the Apapa Area Command.
According to Adeniyi, one of the intercepted consignments contained 1,100 packages of CHACOLD Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules bearing a fake NAFDAC registration number and forged documentation intended to make the products appear legitimately approved for sale in Nigeria.
He said although the shipment initially appeared authentic, further verification confirmed that the medicines had never been registered with NAFDAC.
“The use of a fake registration number and fraudulent documentation clearly points to a deliberate attempt to introduce unregistered pharmaceutical products into the Nigerian market, posing a significant threat to public health,” Adeniyi said.
The Comptroller-General explained that the discovery was one of nine major seizures made by the Apapa Area Command through intelligence gathering, scanning technology, physical inspection, and collaboration with the NDLEA.
He said the seized items, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N53.39 billion, included cannabis, codeine syrup, expired pharmaceutical products, and other prohibited goods intercepted in containers arriving through the Apapa seaport.
Among the seizures were two 40-foot containers loaded with Cannabis Sativa concealed alongside imported vehicles, automobile spare parts, and household items. One of the containers contained 3,639 parcels of cannabis weighing 1,819.5 kilograms, while the second held 9,918 sachets with a combined weight of about 4.95 metric tonnes.
Customs officers also intercepted two containers carrying 3,398 cartons, equivalent to 339,800 bottles, of codeine syrup hidden inside consignments of insulated casserole dishes and other household items.
In addition, three containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products—including Tramadol, Oxytocin injections, Carbamazepine tablets, Cloxicillin capsules, Vitamin B12 injections, and B-Complex injections—were seized for regulatory action.
Another container carrying Piccan Teething Powder was also intercepted.
Adeniyi said the seizures underscore the Customs Service’s commitment to protecting public health, safeguarding national security, and strengthening border enforcement through intelligence-led operations.
He warned that criminal networks continue to exploit legitimate trade channels by concealing illicit drugs and unsafe pharmaceutical products but stressed that the Nigeria Customs Service has significantly enhanced its intelligence, technological, and operational capabilities to detect and dismantle such smuggling networks.
He added that all narcotic drugs seized had been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and possible prosecution, while the expired pharmaceutical products would be transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action and safe disposal.
According to the Customs boss, the vehicles, automobile spare parts, and other items used to conceal the prohibited goods will remain in the custody of the Nigeria Customs Service pending forfeiture, condemnation, revenue recovery, and other enforcement procedures in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
