Posted on: Fri 16-08-2024

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday intercepted expired and controlled pharmaceutical products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1.8billion  illegally smuggled into the Lagos Port.

The Comptroller-General of the service, Adewale Adeniyi, who broke the news at a briefing in Lagos, said the illicit drugs include tramadol, codeine and other pharmaceuticals without registration numbers from regulatory authorities.

He said if allowed to exit the ports, the drugs would undermine the security of our  nation by influencing the behaviour of individuals involved in criminal activities, often fueled by illicit drugs such as tramadol.

The drugs, aside from being expired, he said, some of the seized items were imported without undergoing the regulatory requirements, such as obtaining a National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) number.

His words: “We also have containers that were seized due to false declarations, ostensibly to evade duty payments, which amounts to smuggling. In total, 12 containers have been seized. These importations are in flagrant violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.

“One of the seized containers, a 1x40ft container with box number SEGU4339917, was declared to contain baclofen tablets, metoprolol succinate, atenolol gloves, losartan potassium, hydrochlorothiazide, atorvastatin calcium, esomeprazole magnesium, diclofenac sodium topical gel, valsartan tablets, losartan potassium, and timolol maleate.

SOURCE: GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER

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