The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a significant breakthrough in its anti-smuggling efforts, seizing 16 containers filled with contraband and falsely declared goods, including illicit pharmaceuticals, with an estimated street value of N20.5 billion.
The massive interception, described by officials as one of the largest pharmaceutical busts in recent memory, was revealed at the Onne Port in Rivers State by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi.
Addressing journalists at the Customs Area 2 Command Headquarters, Adeniyi detailed how the containers were intercepted.
He explained that 11 of the containers were clandestinely packed with dangerous and unregistered drugs, cleverly hidden beneath layers of seemingly legitimate consumer items such as tomato paste, ceiling fans, plumbing materials, and even vehicle parts, in a sophisticated attempt to evade detection.
The illicit cargo included an alarming quantity of controlled substances: over 1.3 million bottles of Codeine syrup, 12.6 million tablets of Tapentadol/Tramadol, and millions of other unregulated prescription drugs with high potential for abuse.
Among the specific drugs listed were 9.3 million tablets of Really Extra Diclofenac, 3.5 million tablets of Trodol (5mg), 210,000 tablets of Hyergra (200mg), 717,360 tablets of Bisoveu, and 2.2 million tablets of Bassuka (50mg).
Adeniyi warned that such a large influx of unregulated drugs could have devastating public health consequences, potentially leading to a surge in drug addiction and exacerbating Nigeria’s public health crisis.
He also highlighted the risk of empowering criminal networks that profit from illegal drug trade, underscoring that this is ‘not just a health issue, it’s a national security risk.’
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He attributed the success of the seizure to intensified intelligence-led enforcement operations, conducted in close collaboration with other national regulatory bodies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Bolstered by the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, the agency executed targeted interdictions at high-risk corridors and port entries, culminating in this major haul.
Adeniyi warned all smuggling networks: “Let it be known, Nigeria’s borders are not open to criminal enterprise. We will pursue violators with the full weight of the law.”
He reiterated the Service’s unwavering commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s national security and economic reform agenda by tightening border controls, enhancing inter-agency collaboration, and maintaining a zero-tolerance stance against smuggling.
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, present at the briefing, commended the Customs for their breakthrough, describing the seizure as a ‘critical line of defence’ against hazardous products entering Nigerian homes and pharmacies.
She assured the public that NAFDAC would conduct detailed laboratory analyses on the seized pharmaceuticals and maintain stringent regulatory protocols for inspection, certification, and distribution.
