Customs Service Seizes ₦5.8m Unregistered Drugs in Sokoto

The Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto/Zamfara Area Command, seized unregistered pharmaceutical products worth ₦5.8 million and handed them over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation. The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Haliru Abdullahi, stated that the products were intercepted along the Illela-Sokoto Road based on credible intelligence.

The seized items included 360 packages of anti-cold drugs, 500 packages of amodiaquine, 140 packages of paracetamol, and 100 packages of quinine, with a total Duty Paid Value of ₦5,804,062.06. Abdullahi emphasized that importing unregistered pharmaceutical products violates Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and NAFDAC regulations.

He warned smugglers against illegal trade, asserting the command's commitment to public health. NAFDAC State Coordinator AbduSalam Lawal commended the collaboration with Customs and pledged to strengthen their partnership to prevent unregistered products from reaching consumers.