Compt Frank Onyeka, Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)(middle), Mr. Kareem Taiwo Adekunle, Chief Regulatory Officer, Investigation and Inspection Directorate, Apapa Command of NAFDAC (right) and other senior Customs officers during the handing over of expired drugs to NAFDAC by the Customs in Lagos
The Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has averred that as part of collaboration among sister agencies working within the maritime and border sectors, it has handed over three containers of expired pharmaceutical products, intercepted and seized by the command to the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), of the Command, Comptroller Frank O. Onyeka, noted that the event underpinned the collective efforts to protect public health and national security.
He said that the formal handing over of the three units of 20ft containers of expired pharmaceutical products would enable NAFDAC to take appropriate regulatory action on the items.
The Controller explained that the containers include units with number PONU031958/6 and MSKU711656/0, which were found to contain expired Tramadol tablets.
He revealed that the consignments were thoroughly examined and that the result revealed that the first container contained 86 cartons of Vingil Tramadol BP 50mg, while the second container held 250 cartons of the same expired Tramadol product.
According to Comptroller Onyeka, the third container, with number MSKU413519/1, was found to contain 370 cartons of expired Diclofenac Sodium BP 50mg tablets without valid NAFDAC registration number, making the consignment illegal and dangerous for public use.
He added beyond the seizures, the Command has continued to record notable achievements in recent times through intensified cargo examination, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained enforcement operations.
The Controller assured that the Command had remained proactive in intercepting prohibited and falsely declared goods, including controlled pharmaceuticals, arms and ammunition, narcotics, and other items capable of undermining public safety and economic stability.
Furthermore, he said that the Command had continued to facilitate legitimate trade and contribute significantly to revenue generation, in line with the core mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service. He noted that the achievements are the result of deliberate strategies anchored on discipline, integrity, and strong inter-agency collaboration.
It will be recalled that the Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service a few days ago handed over 55 bags of Cannabis Indica worth over N4.7 billion to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), in a move that underscored the collaborative relationships between the Command and sister agencies.
Onyeka expressed his deep appreciation to the NAFDAC operatives for their consistent cooperation. He stated that the synergy between the two agencies and other sister agencies has continued to yield positive results, particularly in ensuring that fake, substandard, and expired drugs are intercepted before reaching the Nigerian populace.
He commended officers and men of the Command for their resilience and commitment to duty, saying that their efforts have continued to strengthen the credibility and operational effectiveness of the Command.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his purposeful leadership and strategic reforms, which have empowered the Command’s operations.
The Controller reassured the general public that the Command would not relent in its resolve to combat illicit trade, enforce compliance with extant laws, and work closely with sister agencies to safeguard lives and property.
Reacting to the handing over of the expired drugs to NAFDAC, the agency’s Chief Regulatory Officer, Investigation and Inspection Directorate, Apapa, Mr. Kareem Taiwo Adekunle praised the collaboration existing between the two agencies and lauded Customs for uncompromisingly working to ensure that illicit drugs do not enter Nigerian markets.
He assured that NAFDAC will do further investigations and take necessary action on the consignments afterwards.
