The Nigeria Customs Service, Apapa Area Command mentioned it intercepted a complete of 12 containers of expired and managed pharmaceutical merchandise price N1.8bn.
In a press release on Thursday, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this whereas displaying among the seized contraband on the command in Apapa, Lagos.
Adeniyi said that if the medication had been allowed to exit the ports, it might undermine the safety of the nation by influencing the conduct of people concerned in legal actions usually fueled by illicit medication corresponding to tramadol.
“I am here to present seizures made by our officers at the Apapa Port Command, which comprise expired and controlled pharmaceutical products with a DPV of N1.8bn,” Adeniyi mentioned.
He added that other than being expired, among the seized medication had been imported with out present process the mandatory regulatory necessities, corresponding to acquiring a National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control quantity.
The CGC said that some containers had been additionally seized as a result of false declarations to evade responsibility funds, which quantities to smuggling.
“In total, 12 containers have been seized. These imports are in flagrant violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023,” he mentioned.
Giving particulars of the seizures, he mentioned that one of many seized containers, a 40-foot container with quantity SEGU4339917, was declared to comprise baclofen tablets, metoprolol succinate, atenolol gloves, losartan potassium, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin calcium, esomeprazole magnesium, diclofenac sodium topical gel, valsartan tablets, losartan potassium, and timolol maleate.
The CGC defined that upon examination, the container was discovered to comprise bodily well being immune dietary supplements that expired in July this 12 months.
“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.
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“Major 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 would expire in November 2024; oral rehydration solution mix that expired in July 2024; unmap multiple micronutrient supplements that would expire in December 2025, and other regulated medical items,” Adeniyi defined.
The customs boss maintained that along with the expired pharmaceutical merchandise, one other 20ft container with quantity DFSU 1362498, was discovered to comprise cartons of Royal Tramadol 225mg, hid with expired cartons of Really Extra Analgesic, antiseptic, and anti inflammatory tablets with out a NAFDAC quantity.
According to him, one other 20ft container with registration quantity PCIU 1934537 was discovered to comprise rolls of tramadol 225mg hid with expired cartons of pharmaceutical merchandise with out a NAFDAC registration quantity.
“Similarly, a 20ft container with registration number, CAIU 2167874 was found to contain cartons of tramadol (100mg) concealed with expired cartons of pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC number,” Adeniyi defined.
He mentioned that one other 40ft container with registration quantity SEGU 6326800 was discovered to comprise cartons of codeine hid with cartons of expired pharmaceutical merchandise and cartons of brushes.
“A 40ft container with registration number, No. DFSU 7320205 was found to contain cartons of codeine and tramadol concealed with expired Diacare Antidiarrheal and other pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC number,” he mentioned.
Adeniyi, nevertheless, added that one other 40ft container with registration quantity TCKU 6880985 was discovered to comprise cartons of expired pharmaceutical merchandise with out a NAFDAC registration quantity.
“In addition to the pharmaceutical products, there were two 40ft containers with registration numbers, CAUU 5699055 and SUAN 8691124 respectively carrying 15,540 and 12,000 pieces of cutlasses,” he added
According to him, a complete of 27,540 items of cutlasses had been contained within the two containers.
Adeniyi, nevertheless, recommended the command for working with him on this anti-smuggling exploit.
He mentioned that the command handles the best quantity of commerce for the NCS, collects the best income, and is subsequently saddled with a better diploma of expectation from the administration of the Service and the federal government.
“I urge them to maintain this level of performance,” he suggested.
He urged port customers to embrace solely legit commerce, stressing that the service, below his management, is absolutely dedicated to its tasks in detecting all types of concealment.
“While our commitment to facilitating legitimate trade remains unwavering, we are equally dedicated to ensuring that any import consignment or export cargo transiting through our ports under customs control is thoroughly checked using our non-intrusive measures and physical examinations where necessary,” he concluded.