The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted prohibited, expired and falsely declared goods worth N6,381,237,988.00 (Six Billion, Three Hundred and ’&-&Eighty-One Million, Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Eight Naira)
Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale, Bashir, Adeniyi made the disclosure at a press conference Tuesday, at the Apapa Port, Customs Area Command. He explained that the importation of expired drugs and
controlled substances pose a direct threat to public health, while the
concealment of codeine-based products represents a calculated attempt to fuel substance abuse and undermine our healthcare system.
Adeniyi who insisted that Apapa Port is no longer a playground for smugglers or criminal syndicates hiding behind legitimate trade documentation, warned economic saboteurs to steer clear of the nation’s ports or risk the consequences
He maintained that ” in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023,
these consignments are liable to outright forfeiture, while penalties will be imposed, evaded revenues recovered and all persons connected to these shipments will face prosecution”.
He assured that compliant traders and investors would be protected noting that “enforcement is not against legitimate trade; it is against criminality. Those who comply with the law will continue to enjoy facilitation and predictability”,
” Let today’s operation send an unmistakable signal: the gaps
smugglers once exploited in our ports are closing fast. Through technology,
intelligence, and vigilant officers, the Nigeria Customs Service will
intercept, expose, and prosecute anyone who attempts to undermine our trade system or threaten the safety of our citizens”, the CGC stated.
The CGC further explained that the seizures were the direct result of careful risk profiling and non-intrusive inspection procedures by officers of the Service who identified several containers with irregular cargo profiles that warranted further examination.
” What we are presenting today involves thirteen (13) containers and additional contraband items intercepted through coordinated enforcement operations.
” Following detailed scanning analysis and physical examination, officers uncovered the following consignments:
* A 40-foot container (HASU 4072659) conveying large quantities of expired pharmaceutical products including Mixagrip Cold Caplets, Ladinax tablets, Chloroquine injections and Diclofenac tablets.
* Two 40-foot containers (MRSU 4584911 and MRSU 6913370)
conveying large consignments of Hyegra 200 and Sildenafil Citrate
unregistered pharmaceuticals.
* A 20-foot container (MRKU 8830266) conveying 800 cartons of
Codeine (TPL CSC) deliberately concealed inside toilet flushing
cisterns and sanitary ware.
* A 40-foot container (MRSU 5147562) conveying cartons of
Artesunate 60 injections.
* A 20-foot container (PCIU 286888) conveying restricted security
equipment without End User Certificates, including bulletproof vests, helmets, walkie-talkies and tactical torches.”
Others include: A 20-foot container (TCLU 3819607) conveying expired muffin cookie biscuits.
* A 20-foot container (UGMU 8692902) containing 36,000 cans
of expired Primo energy drinks.
* A 20-foot container (SUDU 1696593) loaded with expired St.
Kelvin tomato paste.
* Another 20-foot container (TCLU 1923314) containing expired
De Truth tomato paste.
* A 40-foot container (TCNU 7257465) containing 1,700 cartons
of Codeine cough syrup concealed with luxury food flasks.
* Another 40-foot container (CAAU 8375050) was found to contain
1,575 cartons of CSMIX with codeine concealed with 156 cartons of electric
kettles, alongside additional pharmaceutical seizures including 13 cartons of Bristol brand Co-codamol 500mg and 2 cartons of Zevita brand Co-codamol 500mg. Officers also intercepted 13 jumbo bags of Cannabis Sativa (Colorado) weighing 347.57kg concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle with Chassis No. 5TDDK3DC7DS057669.