The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 13 containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products, codeine-based medicines and other prohibited items at Apapa Port, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦6.38 billion.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lagos while briefing journalists, describing the seizures as a direct result of intelligence-driven enforcement supported by modern scanning technology and targeted physical examinations.
According to him, Customs operatives identified suspicious cargo through risk profiling and non-intrusive inspection procedures, which led to the discovery of several containers with irregular cargo declarations.
Seized Containers and Contraband
The intercepted shipments included:
A 40-foot container (HASU 4072659) containing expired pharmaceutical products such as Mixagrip Cold Caplets, Ladinax tablets, Chloroquine injections and Diclofenac tablets.
Two 40-foot containers (MRSU 4584911 and MRSU 6913370) carrying unregistered pharmaceuticals, including Hyegra 200 and Sildenafil Citrate.
A 20-foot container (MRKU 8830266) with 800 cartons of codeine syrup concealed inside toilet flushing cisterns and sanitary ware.
A 40-foot container (MRSU 5147562) containing cartons of Artesunate 60 injections.
A 20-foot container (PCIU 286888) loaded with restricted security equipment such as bulletproof vests, helmets, walkie-talkies and tactical torches without End User Certificates.
Other seized items included expired food products such as muffin cookies, 36,000 cans of Primo energy drinks, and tomato paste brands including St. Kelvin and De Truth.
Customs also uncovered:
A 40-foot container (TCNU 7257465) with 1,700 cartons of codeine cough syrup concealed among luxury food flasks.
Another 40-foot container (CAAU 8375050) containing 1,575 cartons of CSMIX with codeine, hidden with cartons of electric kettles.
Additional pharmaceutical products including Co-codamol tablets.
In a separate operation, officers intercepted 13 jumbo bags of Cannabis Sativa (Colorado) weighing 347.57 kilograms, concealed inside a Toyota Sienna vehicle.
Customs said the total value of the seizures stands at ₦6,381,237,988, representing prohibited, expired and falsely declared goods.
Threat to Public Health
Adeniyi warned that the importation of expired drugs and controlled substances poses a major risk to public health.
He noted that the concealment of codeine-based products was a deliberate attempt to promote substance abuse and undermine Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Customs boss stressed that Apapa Port remains a hostile environment for smugglers and criminal networks hiding under legitimate trade documentation.
Technology-Driven Enforcement
Adeniyi explained that the increasing cargo traffic at Nigerian ports has made the Customs Service’s responsibility more critical.
“Thousands of containers pass through this port daily carrying goods that sustain industries and drive the national economy. While we facilitate legitimate trade, we must ensure criminal networks do not exploit the system,” he said.
He disclosed that Customs has intensified technology-driven cargo inspection, combining scanning systems with intelligence-based risk management.
Operational statistics from Apapa Port show that:
3,236 consignments passed through the Orange Channel (non-intrusive scanning)
5,490 consignments through the Yellow Channel (documentary checks)
21,373 consignments underwent full physical examination under the Red Channel
1,118 consignments passed through the Blue Channel
149 consignments were cleared via the Green Channel
The CGC said Customs plans to expand scanning technology across major ports, including Tin Can Island Port, Port Harcourt Port, Onne Port, and Calabar Port, to enhance enforcement and reduce port congestion.
Data Analytics Centre Commissioned
Meanwhile, Adeniyi also commissioned a new Data Analytics Centre at Apapa Port and inspected the Drive-Through Scanner recently installed at the port.
He described data as the “new currency of international trade”, noting that credible data remains the backbone of Customs’ risk management system and enforcement strategy.
According to him, expanding technology-driven inspections will improve enforcement accuracy, accelerate cargo clearance and strengthen border control.
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2026-03-10
