Customs Seizes 11 Containers of Unapproved Drugs, Expired Goods, and Drones Worth N921 Billion
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of 11 containers packed with illegal and unregulated items, including unregistered sexual enhancement drugs, expired consumables, and advanced drone equipment, at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
Comptroller General Adewale Adeniyi, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, disclosed that the seizure—comprising five 40-foot containers, two 20-foot containers, and four other shipments—has a total duty-paid value of N921 billion.
According to Adeniyi, a large portion of the confiscated goods were pharmaceutical products not approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), posing serious health risks.
“These unregistered drugs present a clear danger to public health and could lead to loss of life if allowed into the market,” he warned.
He detailed the contents of each container, highlighting that one included 89 cartons of unapproved drugs, while another carried 242 cartons. One of the larger shipments was found to contain over 1,000 cartons of sildenafil-based products—commonly used for sexual enhancement—none of which had the necessary regulatory clearance.
Another container was found to be falsely labeled as containing cosmetic powder but was actually filled with 805 cartons of illicit pharmaceuticals. Additional containers held expired margarine and 60 military-grade drones.
Customs also discovered 53 units of helicopter drones, along with 10 high-grade FM transceiver walkie-talkies, all lacking the legally required End User Certificates from the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Adeniyi grouped the seized items into three categories: unregistered medicines, expired food products, and restricted technological equipment. He pointed out that over 70% of the seized goods fell under the category of illegal pharmaceuticals, in violation of NAFDAC regulations.
He further criticized deceptive import practices, revealing that some items were intentionally mislabeled to avoid detection. “In two separate containers, pharmaceuticals were hidden behind layers of skin care products,” he said.
The Customs boss emphasized that these seizures point to an evolving pattern of organized smuggling operations rather than isolated incidents. He affirmed that the NCS is collaborating with relevant regulatory bodies to investigate and prevent future occurrences.
