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Nigeria Customs Service and NAFDAC Strengthen Ties with Landmark Seizure
By prince Benson Davies
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have recorded a significant breakthrough in their efforts to combat smuggling and protect public health. The two agencies, in collaboration with other security outfits, have seized 16 containers of illicit pharmaceutical products valued at over ₦20.5 billion at the Port Harcourt II Area Command in Onne.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, attributed the success to intelligence-driven enforcement and renewed synergy among national security and regulatory bodies. The seized items include large quantities of Codeine syrup, Diclofenac tablets, Tramadol, and other unregistered and dangerous pharmaceuticals.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, commended the Customs Service and its partner agencies for their vigilance, stressing the public health threat posed by the illicit consignment. She confirmed that all seized items would undergo comprehensive regulatory procedures, including laboratory testing and destruction.
The seizure is a testament to the strength of inter-agency collaboration and the commitment of the NCS and NAFDAC to protecting public health and safety. The agencies have pledged to enhance intelligence-sharing, surveillance, and enforcement operations to combat smuggling and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
This landmark seizure comes shortly after a separate major seizure at Apapa Port, where 25 containers of substandard medical devices were impounded. The NCS and NAFDAC remain committed to their mandate of safeguarding the country’s borders and protecting public health.
