Customs Seizes N53.39bn Counterfeit Drugs at Apapa Port

The Nigeria Customs Service at Apapa Port intercepted counterfeit NAFDAC-approved drugs and other illicit pharmaceutical products valued at N53.39 billion. This operation was disclosed by Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on Wednesday.

The interception was a result of meticulous intelligence gathering, scanning, analysis, and physical examination, showcasing close teamwork with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Among the seized items were 6.7 tons of cannabis sativa, concealed within two 40-foot containers alongside imported vehicles and spare parts.

Additionally, 339,800 bottles of codeine syrup containing expired pharmaceutical products were confiscated. The consignments included 1,100 packages of Chacold chlorpheniramine maleate capsules, which bore fake NAFDAC registration numbers and false expiry dates, indicating a deliberate attempt to smuggle unregistered pharmaceutical products into the Nigerian market, posing serious risks to public health.