The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of 25 containers loaded with counterfeit pharmaceutical products and other illicit substances valued at ₦9.23 billion, handing them over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and disposal.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Friday during the official handover ceremony at Apapa Port in Lagos, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Adeniyi revealed that the containers, comprising 21 forty-foot and four twenty-foot units, included a disturbing assortment of unregistered and counterfeit medications, expired food items, and prohibited consumer products. He described the seizure as part of a broader strategy to protect public health and reinforce Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain integrity.
“Today, we formally hand over to NAFDAC a total of 25 containers laden with counterfeit medications, unregistered pharmaceutical products, and prohibited substances, including codeine-based preparations that pose imminent danger to public health,” Adeniyi stated.
Seized items pose serious public health threats
A detailed inventory of the seized goods exposed alarming trends in misdeclaration and deliberate attempts to bypass import controls. Among the confiscated items were sexual enhancement drugs like REDSUN and HYEGRA (containing sildenafil citrate), codeine-laced cough syrups, antibiotics such as oxytetracycline and artesunate, as well as painkillers with diclofenac sodium and paracetamol.
Other items included skin-lightening creams labeled “Gbogbonise,” breast and hip enlargement products, and tablets with falsified NAFDAC registration numbers.
The containers also contained expired food products like margarine and chocolate, veterinary drugs, antimalarial treatments, and consumer items such as Crusader soap.
“This cache represents a sophisticated network of criminal enterprises exploiting regulatory loopholes to compromise our national health security,” Adeniyi said.
Intelligence-driven operations and collaboration
The Customs chief credited the seizures to improved intelligence-sharing and technological advancements that allow officers to detect contraband regardless of concealment methods. Adeniyi praised the operatives at Apapa Port Command for their vigilance and dedication, describing them as embodying the core values of the Service.
He further disclosed that investigations had revealed the involvement of haulage operators, bonded terminal owners, and other trade facilitators. “Anyone found complicit will face the full weight of the law,” he warned.
NAFDAC: Public support crucial in fight against fake drugs
Representing the Director-General of NAFDAC, Ayobami Ibrahim, Assistant Director in charge of Ports Inspection, commended the Customs Service for its steadfast efforts. Ibrahim reiterated that laboratory testing remains essential in identifying fake drugs and emphasized the importance of community collaboration.
“We encourage the public to share credible information that can help us intercept these dangerous substances before they reach consumers,” Ibrahim said.
NAFDAC noted that despite some counterfeit products still making it to market, joint enforcement with Customs has significantly increased successful interceptions, safeguarding millions of Nigerians from potentially life-threatening health risks.
Broader context
The seizure underscores Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with the importation and circulation of fake and substandard products, a challenge that threatens not only public health but also the country’s economic stability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), counterfeit medicines account for nearly 10% of medical products in low- and middle-income countries, contributing to preventable deaths and financial losses.
Adeniyi emphasized that these seizures align with the strategic Memorandum of Understanding signed between NCS and NAFDAC in November 2024, which prioritizes intelligence-led enforcement against counterfeit pharmaceuticals and unwholesome food products.
As Nigeria continues to ramp up efforts to sanitize its borders and supply chains, authorities have urged the public and private sector stakeholders to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
