Customs Hands Over N20.5bn Fake Drugs To NAFDAC In Rivers

The Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) has handed over a total of 11 containers which were intercepted at Onne Port in Rivers State to the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The containers contained illicit and unregistered pharmaceutical products, which include harmful drugs and had aggregate duty value of N20,545,999,200.

The substances were intercepted by operatives of Nigerian Customs, Area 2 Command, Onne.

Handing over the seized containers to NAFDAC at Onne Port in Friday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, said a joint committee of the two agencies was set up to oversee and manage a joint action against illegal importation of unregistered products into the country.

“Two weeks ago in Abuja, the Nigerian Custom Service and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) took one major step to begin the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding that had been consummated between the two agencies far back 2024.

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“This committee was set up to serve as a major arrowhead to superintend and manage a joint action against illegal importation of unregistered products into the country.

“I am happy that two weeks into this, this is the second time that we are coming out to jointly inspect and hand over goods that have offended various laws, especially goods that are not registered and are fake products and in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act and our mandate of public accountability trust and stakeholder management,” Adeniyi said.

He assured that the Customs will continue to maintain steadfast commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s policy objective of securing the nation’s borders, protecting public health and safeguarding national security.”

Receiving the intercepted containers, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, said the handover of the illicit and unregistered pharmaceutical products was a strong demonstration of the partnership between the two organisations to safeguard public health and uphold the highest standards of consumer protection.

“Today’s handover ceremony represents not just an act of administrative duty, but a strong demonstration of the partnership between Nigerian Customs Service and NAFDAC to safeguard public health and uphold the highest standards of consumer protection.

“A few days ago, the Comptroller General of Customs was at our head-office in Abuja in his drive to explore better ways of collaboration in the fight against the importation of fake and substandard and falsified NAFDAC-regulated products.

“Just last week, we were there at Apapa Port to receive for destruction, 25 containers of unwholesome medical devices,” Adeyeye said.

In his welcome address, Comptroller of Nigerian Customs, Area Two Command, Mohammed Babandede, said the containers were intercepted in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Babandede said the Command was able to achieve the feat due to the excellent collaborative effort established by the current Comptroller-General of Customs.