Customs Seize N1.8bn Worth of Expired Goods at Apapa Seaport
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 12 containers of expired and unregistered pharmaceutical products, including illicit drugs, valued at N1.8 billion at the Apapa seaport in Lagos State.
While presenting the seized items on Thursday, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, emphasized the service’s commitment to blocking imports that threaten public health. “Our officers at the Apapa port command have successfully seized expired and controlled pharmaceutical products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.8 billion,” Adeniyi stated.
Among the intercepted goods was a 40-foot container declared to contain various pharmaceutical products, including supplements and medications like Valsartan tablets, Prednisone tablets, and Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel—all of which had expired between April and July 2024. Additionally, the container included items like oral rehydration solutions and immune supplements that had also expired.
Adeniyi further revealed that some seized containers lacked the required National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) registration numbers, raising additional safety concerns. Containers filled with Royal Tramadol (225mg), concealed alongside expired analgesics and anti-inflammatory tablets, were also uncovered, with similar concealments found in other containers.
The NCS also confiscated two containers holding a total of 27,540 cutlasses and machetes. Adeniyi praised the efforts of Apapa Customs Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, and his team for their diligent anti-smuggling work. When asked about the impact of the Federal Government’s zero duty on certain food items, Adeniyi estimated that the policy could lead to a N188 billion revenue shortfall for the NCS. However, he affirmed that the measure is necessary to ease the economic burden on Nigerians, and assured that the Customs Service would continue to fulfill its responsibilities effectively.
