The Apapa Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized about 12 containers carrying various contraband items, including tramadol, expired drugs, and cutlasses and machetes worth N1.8 billion.
Its Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed the information while unveiling the seized items in Lagos.
According to Adeniyi, the expired pharmaceutical products were imported without undergoing the necessary regulatory requirements, and some did not have the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) numbers.
He also mentioned that some containers were seized due to false declarations, which amount to smuggling.
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The seized containers included a 40ft container with expired daily health immune supplements, acyclovir capsules, valsartan tablets, prednisone tablets, losartan potassium tablets, and other regulated medical items.
Another 20ft container contained cartons of Royal Tramadol concealed with expired cartons of analgesic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory tablets without a NAFDAC number.
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Furthermore, a 20ft container was found to contain rolls of tramadol concealed with expired cartons of zokomol and diclofenac pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC registration number.
Also, a 40ft container contained cartons of codeine concealed with cartons of expired pharmaceutical products and cartons of brushes.
The customs boss commended the Apapa customs area controller, Babatunde Olomu, and the officers for their anti-smuggling efforts.
He urged them to maintain their level of performance and advised port users to embrace only legitimate trade.
Adeniyi reiterated that the NCS is committed to detecting all forms of concealment and ensuring that any import consignment or export cargo transiting through the ports under customs control is thoroughly checked.
