The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has introduced the interception of 12 40ft containers laden with expired prescribed drugs, illicit medicine, expired dietary supplements and machetes value N1.8billion.
Talking at a press briefing in Apapa Port, Lagos, on Thursday, the Comptroller Basic of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, mentioned if the medicine had been allowed to exit the ports, it might undermine nationwide safety by influencing the behaviour of people concerned in prison actions.
“I’m right here to current seizures made by our officers on the Apapa Port Command, which comprise expired and managed pharmaceutical merchandise with a DPV of N1.8bn,” Adeniyi mentioned.
He added that other than being expired, a few of the seized medicine had been imported with out present process the required regulatory necessities, reminiscent of acquiring a quantity from the Nationwide Company for Meals Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC).
The CGC acknowledged that some containers had been additionally seized resulting from false declarations to evade responsibility funds, which quantities to smuggling.
“In complete, 12 containers have been seized. These imports are in flagrant violation of Part 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023,” he mentioned.
Giving particulars of the seizures, the NCS’s boss mentioned that one of many seized containers, a 40-foot container with quantity SEGU4339917, was declared to include baclofen tablets, metoprolol succinate, atenolol gloves, losartan potassium, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin calcium, esomeprazole magnesium, diclofenac sodium topical gel, valsartan tablets, losartan potassium, and timolol maleate.
He defined that upon examination, the container was discovered to include bodily well being immune dietary supplements that expired in July this yr.
“Acyclovir capsules that expired in April 2024; valsartan tablets (320mg and 160mg) that expired in June 2024; prednisone tablets 10mg that expired in June 2024; losartan potassium tablets (100mg) that expired in June 2024.
“Main aspirin low-dose ache reliever 81mg that expired in June 2024; vitamin D dietary supplements that expired in June 2024; magnesium oxide tablets 420mg that expired in June 2024.
“Diclofenac sodium topical gel that might expire in November 2024; oral rehydration resolution combine that expired in July 2024; unmap a number of micronutrient dietary supplements that might expire in December 2025, and different regulated medical objects,” Adeniyi defined.
The customs boss maintained that along with the expired pharmaceutical merchandise, one other 20ft container with quantity DFSU 1362498, was discovered to include cartons of Royal Tramadol 225mg, hid with expired cartons of Actually Further Analgesic, antiseptic, and anti inflammatory tablets with no NAFDAC quantity.
In line with him, one other 20ft container with registration quantity PCIU 1934537 was discovered to include rolls of tramadol 225mg hid with expired cartons of pharmaceutical merchandise with no NAFDAC registration quantity.
“Equally, a 20ft container with registration quantity, CAIU 2167874 was discovered to include cartons of tramadol (100mg) hid with expired cartons of pharmaceutical merchandise with no NAFDAC quantity,” Adeniyi defined.
He mentioned that one other 40ft container with registration quantity SEGU 6326800 was discovered to include cartons of codeine hid with cartons of expired pharmaceutical merchandise and cartons of brushes.
“A 40ft container with registration quantity, No. DFSU 7320205 was discovered to include cartons of codeine and tramadol hid with expired Diacare Antidiarrheal and different pharmaceutical merchandise with no NAFDAC quantity,” he mentioned.
Adeniyi, nonetheless, added that one other 40ft container with registration quantity TCKU 6880985 was discovered to include cartons of expired pharmaceutical merchandise with no NAFDAC registration quantity.
“Along with the pharmaceutical merchandise, there have been two 40ft containers with registration numbers, CAUU 5699055 and SUAN 8691124 respectively carrying 15,540 and 12,000 items of cutlasses,” he added
In line with him, a complete of 27,540 items of cutlasses had been contained within the two containers.
Adeniyi, nonetheless, counseled the command for working with him on this anti-smuggling exploit.
He mentioned that the command handles the very best quantity of commerce for the NCS, collects the very best income, and is due to this fact saddled with a better diploma of expectation from the administration of the Service and the federal government.
“I urge them to take care of this degree of efficiency,” he suggested.
He urged port customers to embrace solely professional commerce, stressing that the service, underneath his management, is absolutely dedicated to its tasks in detecting all types of concealment.
“Whereas our dedication to facilitating professional commerce stays unwavering, we’re equally devoted to making sure that any import consignment or export cargo transiting via our ports underneath customs management is totally checked utilizing our non-intrusive measures and bodily examinations the place vital,” he concluded.
