BY GODWIN OBI
The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service(NCS), Wale Adeniyi, has vowed that the Service would not sacrifice the security and health of Nigerians on the alter of trade facilitation , as he exhibited 12 Containers ,containing expired and illegal pharmaceuticals worth N1.8 billion in Duty Paid Value(DPV) seized by the Apapa Customs Command in Lagos.
Adeniyi said he was impressed that officers are living up to expectations by executing the Service’s mandate to the fullest, adding that Customs commitment to facilitating legitimate trade and ensuring that consignment or export cargo transiting through our ports are thoroughly checked , using non-intrusive (scanning) measures and physical examinations where necessary.
Explaining the implication of the seizures to the Media, yesterday, in Apapa, he said the items if allowed to exit the Port would undermine the security of Nigeria, by influencing the behaviour of individuals involved in criminal activities , often fuelled by illicit drug such as tramadol.
According to him , apart from being expired, some of the seized drugs were imported without undergoing the necessary regulatory requirements, such as obtaining a National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) number and false declarations, ostensibly to evade duty payments, which amounts to smuggling.
According to him, the importations were in flagrant violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCSA) 2023.6.
Adeniyi disclosed that 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.
He however revealed that upon examination, the container was found to be laden with daily health immune supplements that expired in July this year; acyclovir capsules which expired in April 2024; valsartan tablets (320mg and 160mg) that expired in June 2024; prednisone tablets (USP 10mg) ,which expired in June 2024; losartan potassium tablets (100mg) which expired in June 2024 and major aspirin low-dose pain reliever (81mg) that expired in June 2024.
The Customs boss stated that also in the container are vitamin D supplements that expired in June 2024; magnesium oxide tablets (420mg) which expired in June 2024; diclofenac sodium topical gel expiring in November 2024; oral rehydration solution mix that expired in July 2024; unimap multiple micronutrient supplements expiring in December 2025, and other regulated medical items.
The Customs CG said that in many of the other seized containers ,the expired and unexpired medicaments did not carry the required NAFDAC number.
According to him, apart from the expired pharmaceutical products, another 20ft container (No. DFSU 1362498) was found to contain cartons of Royal Tramadol (225mg) concealed with expired cartons of Really Extra analgesic, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory tablets without a NAFDAC number ,adding that another 20ft container (No. PCIU 1934537) was found to contain rolls of tramadol (225mg) concealed with expired cartons of Zokomol and Diclofenac pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC registration number.
He said a 20ft container (No. CAIU 2167874) was also found to contain cartons of tramadol (100mg) concealed with expired cartons of pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC number.
Also, he stated that a 40ft container (No. SEGU 6326800) was found to contain cartons of codeine concealed with cartons of expired pharmaceutical products and cartons of brushes, pointing out that a 1x40ft container (No. DFSU 7320205) was found to contain cartons of codeine and tramadol concealed with expired Diacare antidiarrheal and Really Extra pain reliever pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC number.
Adeniyi explained that another 40ft container (No. TCKU 6880985) was found to contain cartons of expired pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC registration number, and two 40ft containers (Nos. CAUU 5699055 and SUAN 8691124) with 15,540 and 12,000 pieces of cutlasses and machetes, respectively.
The Customs CG commended Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, and the officers working with him, for the anti-smuggling exploit, stating for the fact that the Apapa Command handles the highest volume of trade for the NCS, collects the highest revenue, and is therefore saddled with a higher degree of expectation , which , according to him, the Command should fulfil.
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2024-08-15