In Rivers, Customs Hands Over N20.5bn Worth of Fake Drugs to NAFDAC

In Rivers, Customs Hands Over N20.5bn Worth of Fake Drugs to NAFDAC

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has handed over 11 containers filled with illicit and unregistered pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) at the Onne Port, Rivers State.

The seizure, valued at ₦20,545,999,200 in duty, was made by operatives of the Customs Area II Command in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Department of State Services (DSS). The containers held dangerous pharmaceutical substances suspected to have been illegally imported into the country.

Speaking during the official handover on Friday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said the action was part of a renewed joint effort to combat the importation of fake and unregistered drugs. He disclosed that a joint committee had been formed by Customs and NAFDAC to enforce the implementation of the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two agencies.

“Two weeks ago in Abuja, we began implementing the MoU between the Nigerian Customs Service and NAFDAC. This committee is the arrowhead for managing joint actions against the illegal importation of unregistered products,” Adeniyi stated.

He added that the seizure was the second major interception within two weeks, reiterating Customs’ commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy objective of securing Nigeria’s borders, protecting public health, and strengthening national security.

Receiving the intercepted containers, NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, hailed the handover as a strong example of inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding public health and consumer safety.

“Today’s handover is not just a routine procedure; it symbolizes our shared commitment to rid Nigeria of fake, substandard, and falsified medical products,” she said. “Just last week, we were at Apapa Port to receive 25 containers of unwholesome medical devices for destruction.”

Professor Adeyeye further disclosed that the Comptroller-General of Customs had recently visited NAFDAC’s headquarters in Abuja to explore deeper avenues for collaboration in the ongoing fight against fake drugs and medical products.

Earlier in his remarks, the Customs Area II Command Comptroller, Mohammed Babandede, credited the success of the interception to effective coordination between security agencies and the leadership drive of the Comptroller-General. He said the collaborative efforts among Customs, NDLEA, and DSS were instrumental in detecting and seizing the illicit shipment.

The seized fake drugs are slated for destruction by NAFDAC in line with national regulations.

The agencies reaffirmed their collective resolve to intensify surveillance, inspections, and enforcement at Nigeria’s ports and borders to prevent future importation of harmful products that threaten the nation’s public health and safety.

By PRNigeria