The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt Area I Command, has handed over a consignment of expired pharmaceutical products with a Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of over N59 million to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for regulatory action.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku, said the seizure underscored the strong collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and NAFDAC in safeguarding public health by preventing unsafe medicines from entering the Nigerian market.
According to Atuluku, the intercepted shipment was discovered during a joint examination carried out on June 22, 2026, at about 1:20pm by officers of the Port Harcourt Area I Command, Shed III, in collaboration with NAFDAC and other relevant government agencies.
She disclosed that the examination was conducted on a 1×40-foot container (Container No. MRSU3199206, C No. 354) imported from the United States.
The Comptroller said the container was found to contain several expired pharmaceutical products, including 606 cartons of Ibuprofen capsules, 173 cartons of Donepezil Hydrochloride tablets, 266 cartons of Subvenite (Lamotrigine) tablets, and cartons of Lansoprazole delayed-release capsules, among other expired medicines.
She noted that the timely interception prevented what could have become a major public health crisis, warning that expired medicines are not only ineffective but also pose serious health risks to consumers.
“The use of expired pharmaceutical products can result in treatment failure, drug toxicity, worsening of existing medical conditions, antimicrobial resistance, and, in some cases, loss of lives,” she said.
Atuluku stressed that if the products had found their way into hospitals, pharmacies, and homes, thousands of Nigerians could have been exposed to avoidable health complications with potentially devastating consequences.
The Area Controller reaffirmed the Command’s zero tolerance for the importation of expired, substandard, falsified, or prohibited pharmaceutical products, describing such activities as a direct threat to public health, national security, and the integrity of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
She assured that the Port Harcourt Area I Command would continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and sustain robust cargo examination to prevent criminal elements from exploiting the nation’s ports for illicit trade.
“The Nigeria Customs Service is fully alert and will continue to identify, intercept, and seize prohibited goods while ensuring that offenders are brought to justice in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and other extant laws,” she said.
Comptroller Atuluku commended officers of the Port Harcourt Area I Command, the Customs Intelligence Unit, NAFDAC, and other participating security agencies for their professionalism, vigilance, and dedication, noting that their collective efforts continue to demonstrate the importance of inter-agency collaboration in protecting Nigeria’s borders and public health.
She also expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the NCS Management Team for their leadership, which she said has strengthened intelligence-driven enforcement, institutional reforms, and operational effectiveness across Customs commands nationwide.
The Customs Area Controller reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders and working closely with sister agencies to promote public safety and national well-being through effective border control and enforcement.
