Customs seize expired drugs, 1.8 tonnes of cannabis

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has successfully thwarted attempts to flood the Nigerian market with expired pharmaceutical products and seized a significant quantity of cannabis. In coordinated operations, the Apapa Area Command intercepted two 40-foot containers filled with expired drugs, valued at over N12.7 billion. These pharmaceuticals were reportedly destined for illegal re-labeling and reintroduction into circulation, posing a severe threat to public health and constituting economic sabotage.

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The Command intercepted two 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products allegedly intended for illegal re-labelling and reintroduction into circulation.

Alongside the pharmaceutical seizure, the command also intercepted 1.8 tonnes of Cannabis sativa, commonly known as 'Canadian loud.' The illicit substance was discovered concealed within a Toyota Nissan vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, and various bags and drums packed inside a 40-foot container (CAAU7569127). Preliminary field tests confirmed the substance's identity.

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The Command stated that the combined Duty Paid Value of the intercepted expired pharmaceuticals is N12,784,479,341.72, describing the attempted importation as a significant act of economic sabotage and a threat to public health.

Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isah Sulaiman, disclosed these successes in a press release, highlighting that the operations were driven by credible intelligence and enhanced risk profiling, in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other regulatory bodies. The NCS emphasized its commitment to combating smuggling and drug trafficking.

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The Command revealed that a total of 3,639 sachets of the illicit substance were recovered, each weighing 500 grammes, for a total estimated weight of about 1,819 kilogrammes (1.81 tonnes).

Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba issued a stern warning to perpetrators, labeling unpatriotic importers and their collaborators as "enemies of Nigeria’s progress." He asserted that the NCS possesses the intelligence, technology, and resolve to apprehend those involved in such criminal activities. Oshoba reiterated that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas remain under constant surveillance, with enforcement operations continuing to be intelligence-driven while ensuring legitimate trade is not hindered.

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unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who deliberately engage in smuggling, drug trafficking and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals are enemies of Nigeria’s progress.