The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health, strengthening border security and combating transnational organised crime.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi stated this at Apapa Area Command during a handover of seized narcotic drugs, counterfeit medicines and expired pharmaceutical products valued at ₦53.3 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.
The seizure of the consignment followed successful intelligence-led operations that resulted in the interception of nine containers carrying prohibited and harmful products destined for the Nigerian market.
“The seizures were made through intelligence gathering, non-intrusive inspection technology, physical examination and close collaboration with the NDLEA,” he said.
According to Adeniyi, the intercepted consignments included large quantities of Cannabis Sativa, codeine syrup, expired pharmaceutical products, unregistered medicines bearing fake NAFDAC registration numbers and other prohibited items concealed in imported containers.
The Comptroller-General described the operation as a major contribution to public health protection.
“The intercepted drugs and pharmaceuticals represent lives saved, communities protected and a significant reduction in the circulation of harmful substances capable of endangering Nigerians” Adeniyi explained.
The Comptroller General said that one of the consignments, which initially appeared legitimate, was identified through Non-Intrusive Inspection and intelligence analysis before verification confirmed that the products carried fake NAFDAC registration details.
He explained that the consignment was subsequently seized in accordance with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, for onward regulatory action.
The seized narcotic drugs were formally handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution, while the expired and unregistered pharmaceutical products were transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action and safe disposal.
Receiving the narcotics on behalf of the Chairman of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), the Assistant Commander-General of Narcotics, Achie-Abia Ogboba, described the operation as “another milestone in the longstanding collaboration between the NDLEA and the Nigeria Customs Service.”
Ogboba commended officers of both agencies for their professionalism and reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration in combating illicit drug trafficking.
Also receiving the seized pharmaceutical products on behalf of NAFDAC, Mr. Olakunle Olaniran commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its continued collaboration in preventing counterfeit, expired and unregistered medicines from entering the Nigerian market.
, has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health, strengthening border security and combating..){kind=link}